MOSCOW – Vladimir Putin has called Europe’s bluff over east Ukraine as Russia-backed separatists seize a strategic town in defiance of a ceasefire brokered by France and Germany.The attack on Debaltseve by rebels loyal to the Russian president amounts to a test of the West’s resolve to stand up to him – at the risk of an escalation of the conflict.Allowing the rebels to capture the rail hub without a strong response to what the West calls a clear violation of the peace deal agreed on Feb. 12 could look like appeasement of Putin.But declaring the agreement dead would be …read more
Source: AsiaOne
