On 18 February, the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO), at a meeting chaired by Ukrainian President P. Poroshenko, decided to appeal to the United Nations for a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine. Poroshenko stated, “The best format for us is an EU policing mission. This would be the most effective guarantor of security in the situation that has developed, in which Russia and those it supports do not keep their word for peace.”
President Poroshenko said about 2,500 troops withdrew from Debaltseve on Wednesday (BBC, photo AP)
At a press conference following a meeting with EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn today, Poroshenko stated, “Russia, as an aggressor country, cannot and will not participate in any such peacekeeping mission. Ukraine will not agree to such a peacekeeping format, which carries the threat of legalizing the thousands-strong Russian military presence – we have enough such ‘peacekeepers’.”
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that yesterday at least 2475 Ukrainian soldiers and almost 200 military vehicles were withdrawn from Debaltseve. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that during the withdrawal from Debaltseve, Ukrainian soldiers were fired upon with Russian artillery. As a result, 13 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 157 were wounded. 90 Ukrainian soldiers have been taken prisoner by Kremlin-backed terrorists, and 82 Ukrainian soldiers are missing in action. The RNBO reported that since the announcement of the ceasefire on 15 February, Ukrainian positions have been shelled 253 times by Kremlin-backed terrorists.
Briefing prepared by Ukrainian Canadian Congress on February 19, 2015
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