Ivo Daalder: Arm Ukraine to show Russia conflict has a cost

Published Jan. 28, 2015 at 10:54 am

Relatives of Ukrainian man Oleksander Demchenko, who was killed during shelling, look on during his funeral at a cemetary in Mariupol on Jan. 26, 2015.

Photo by AFP

There can be no doubt that the recent escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine is the direct result of the increased support Moscow is providing to separatist forces in the Donbas region. As President Barack Obama said on Jan. 25, the separatists' aggression had "Russian backing, Russian equipment, Russian financing, Russian training and Russian troops".