Biden condemns ceasefire violation in Ukraine by Russian separatists

The US has accused Russian forces and separatist rebels of violating the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, after fierce fighting around the strategic town of Debaltseve threatened the latest attempt to end the bloody 10-month conflict.
US Vice President Joe Biden “strongly condemned the violation of the ceasefire by separatist forces acting in concert with Russian forces, in and around the town of Debaltseve,” the White House said in a statement yesterday after he spoke to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
“If Russia continues to violate the Minsk agreements, including the most recent agreement signed on February 12, the costs to Russia will rise,” the White House statement added.
Ukraine earlier appealed to the West to get “tough” on Russia after pro-Moscow separatists stormed the flashpoint town to attack thousands of government troops, violating the three-day-old ceasefire.
Poroshenko, in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the assault on Debaltseve was a “cynical attack” on the truce brokered last week by Germany and France.
He called for the European Union and international community to take a “tough reaction against the treacherous actions of the rebels and Russia”.