Ukraine death toll rises as Minsk talks fail

Peace negotiations between the Trilateral Contact Group and the representatives of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions failed on 31 January 2015 in Minsk, following accusations from both Ukrainian authorities and separatists of sabotage.

Meanwhile, fighting continued between the two sides in the eastern part of Ukraine with deaths being registered, including soldiers and civilians.

The BBC reported on the 3 February 2015 that up to 16 civilians had been killed and dozens more injured in the space of 24 hours in fighting in eastern Ukraine, as the UN warned that the fresh surge in violence was proving 'catastrophic'. The UN also reported that fighting in eastern Ukraine had killed more than 5,350. At least 224 civilians had died in the previous three weeks.

Some media sources reported that the United States was reconsidering the option of providing weapons to Ukraine.
However, Euro|Topics wrote in its Main Focus on the 3 February 2015 that the US had no plans to deliver weapons to Kiev 'in the near future', quoting an adviser to US President Obama. The US and Europe must arm Kiev, some commentators wrote. Others warned that Russia would see weapons from the West as a pretext for stepping up its intervention in eastern Ukraine.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Ukraine conflict: Security in east deteriorating, say observers http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-conflict-security-in-east-deteriorating-say-observers/

OSCE: Newsroom, 01.02.15: Statement by the Chairmanship on the Trilateral Contact Group consultations in Minsk on 31 January 2015 http://www.osce.org/cio/138331

The Wall Street Journal, 31.01.15: Ukraine Violence Escalates as Truce Talks Stall http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-violence-escalates-as-officials-seek-truce-agreement-1422724066

The Guardian, 31.01.15: Talks on ending Ukraine fighting begin as death toll continues to rise http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/31/call-for-immediate-ceasefire-in-eastern-ukraine-as-fighting-intensifies

BBC News, 31.01.15: Ukraine crisis: 'Dozens killed' in east as Minsk talks held http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31074772

Sputnik International, 02.02.15: Obama May Have Been Kept in Dark Over Planned Ukraine Coup http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150202/1017641107.html

Deutsche Welle, 31.01.15: Ukraine: Minsk talks crumble, battles in Debaltseve http://dw.de/p/1ETxj

The Conversation, 30.01.15: Wake up Europe, Ukraine can’t wait any longer for your help http://theconversation.com/wake-up-europe-ukraine-cant-wait-any-longer-for-your-help-36724

Ukraine: President: News: Current Events, 01.02.15: Petro Poroshenko, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande insist on the immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Donbas http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/petro-poroshenko-angela-merkel-ta-fransua-olland-napolyagayu-34618

BBC News, 03.02.15: Ukraine crisis: US considers 'lethal aid' to government http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31104979

EurActiv, 03.02.15: Washington considering sending arms to Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/usa-consider-sending-arms-ukraine-311753

The Guardian, 02.02.15: Ukraine: US considers military help for Kiev as separatists plan to mobilise army http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/02/ukraine-us-considers-miltary-help-kiev-separatists-plan-mobilise-army

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 03.02.15: US discusses weapons deliveries to Kiev http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER157733-US-discusses-weapons-deliveries-to-Kiev

BBC News, 03.02.15: Ukraine crisis: Renewed fighting 'catastrophic' says UN http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31113652

UN: UNHR: Press Release, 03.02.15: Ukraine: Dangerous escalation in conflict proving catastrophic for civilians – Zeid http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15532&LangID=E

Deutsche Welle, 03.02.15: UN raises Ukraine death toll, condemns civilian casualties http://dw.de/p/1EUzd

EurActiv, 05.02.15: Poroshenko calls on NATO to send arms http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poroshenko-calls-nato-send-arms-311852

EurActiv, 05.02.15: Biden heads to Europe amid intensive diplomacy on Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/biden-heads-europe-amid-intensive-diplomacy-ukraine-311859

EUObserver, 05.02.15: Arms to Ukraine debate divides Western allies, experts https://euobserver.com/defence/127509

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Weapons instead of sanctions? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2015-02-waffenukraine/

Blog: EP: EPRS, 05.02.15: EU reaction to Russia-Ukraine conflict http://epthinktank.eu/2015/02/05/eu-reaction-to-russia-ukraine-conflict/

EurActiv, 06.02.15: Chizhov: Sending arms to Ukraine is ‘the worst possible idea’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/chizhov-sending-arms-ukraine-worst-possible-idea-311893

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