Putin Tells Ukrainian Military to Surrender in Key City

Sean Gallup/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin interjected himself directly into the conflict between Ukrainian national forces and rebels in eastern Ukraine Tuesday, when he urged Kiev to allow its soldiers to surrender in the battle-scarred city of Debaltseve.

Although a ceasefire that went into effect Sunday has reduced fighting elsewhere, Debaltseve has remained under siege because it links the separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk with Russia, which has been providing rebels with military support.

Under terms of the deal, both sides were supposed to remove heavy artillery from Debaltseve, but neither has. While conceding its troops are surrounded and confirming reports that rebels have taken control of parts of Debaltseve, Ukrainian officials contend that the city is still within its territory under terms of the temporary armistice.

Putin’s appeal to Kiev, which also includes a plea to rebels to allow Ukrainian soldiers to leave Debaltseve unhindered, is just the latest salvo in the conflict that has cost 5,300 lives since last April.

In Washington, the State Department said it was “gravely concerned” about the situation in Debaltseve, while at the same time arguing that it makes no sense to begin a proxy war with Russia. That could be a signal that President Obama is leaning against providing Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons, as some military and political leaders are in favor of doing.

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