UKRAINE — Ukraine’s military said Wednesday that 80% of Ukrainian armed forces have now pulled out of a strategic railroad hub that’s been the focus of bitter fighting with pro-Russian separatists. The two sides have been battling for weeks for control of Debaltseve, and continued conflict there has undermined a truce that apparently went into effect Sunday, raising concerns it is all but dead. The ramifications for the West are huge because the 10-month-long conflict in eastern Ukraine has hiked tensions with Russia to a level not seen since the end of the Cold War, affecting trade and raising the specter of Russian expansion into Eastern Europe.Putin made a calculation and he'll be proven correct. The European leaders want a return to "normalcy" so bad that they're willing to lose Ukraine.
The Rebels observed the situation and continued their offensive until they could win this city and consolidate their lines.
Good gamble that paid off.
I'll be watching for a European/Ukrainian response to this news. Why not the US? Because the peace deal that Germany and France hammered out left the USA on the sidelines. This is a European problem now.
