Volker on escalation in Donbas: This is part of the cycle
Deterioration of the situation in the Donbas before a ceasefire begins is cyclical, US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told Voice of America in an interview.
“This is part of the cycle: the situation escalates, then it calms down. A ceasefire agreement has been reached for the end of August. Often, before the ceasefire starts to come into effect, there are efforts to capture additional territory, to straighten the line,” Volker said.
On August 22, the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the Donbas conflict agreed to begin a ceasefire on August 29.
At the end of June, the TCG agreed to another “grain” truce during harvesting time. The ceasefire was violated from the very first day, but the amount of shelling was significantly lower than before. During the first few days after the start of the ceasefire, the militants generally opened fire up to 10 times, after which the violations became more frequent. On August 8, as many as 36 shots were fired at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On August 9, OSCE observers announced the end of the “bread” truce. According to the data they have collected, ceasefires last an average of two weeks, before shelling resumes.
The Ukrainian activists noted earlier that the Russian troops Donbas use the ceasefires to build strongholds in the “gray” zones, and Russia sends in new trains and trucks with weapons and personnel.