Fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine

US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki on Friday accused Moscow of providing more weapons to pro-Russian separatists

"The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve, where it is shelling Ukrainian positions," Psaki told reporters, citing US intelligence sources. "We are confident that these are Russian military, not separatist systems."

She also noted that this was not in the spirit of a peace road map for eastern Ukraine, hammered out during all-night talks that ended on Thursday involving German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, as well as his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko.

Surge in fighting

A key element of the peace plan is a ceasefire that is meant to come into force at one minute after midnight on Sunday morning, (22:01 UTC on Saturday). But instead of curtailing the bloodshed, the approaching truce has led to a surge in violence, as pro-Russia separatists push to seize as much territory as they can before the ceasefire takes effect.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters in Kyiv on Friday that 11 soldiers had been killed and 40 others wounded in fighting over the previous 24 hours in the east of the country.

Regional authorities loyal to the government in Kyiv reported at least seven civilian deaths, while rebel sources said seven others were killed in attacks on the separatist-held cities of Luhansk and Horlivka.

Ukraine's deputy defense minister, Petro Mekhed accused the separatists of seeking to take the strategic government-held cities of Debaltseve and Mariupol before the ceasefire is to take effect.

"Ukraine is expecting an escalation and taking all necessary measures to be able to respond," Mekhed said.

Given the situation on the ground, the US State Department spokesperson's next statement appeared to reflect wishful thinking.

"All parties must show complete restraint in the run up to the Sunday ceasefire, including an immediate halt to the Russian and separatist assault on the Debaltseve and other Ukrainian towns," Psaki said.

Skepticism widespread

Given the track record of failed ceasefires in eastern Ukraine, there has been a lot of skepticism about whether the two sides will lay down their arms when the latest truce takes effect. Merkel, who along with Hollande spearheaded the diplomatic drive that culminated in Thursday's agreement has described it as merely a "glimmer of hope."

More than 5,400 people have been killed since the pro-Russian rebels took up arms against the Kyiv authorities last March.

pfd/sms (Reuters, AP, AFP)