Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
Vitaliy Portnikov: Why Putin lost in Minsk
man walks past a damaged building in Uglegorsk, 6 kms southwest of Debaltseve, on February 18, 2015. Ukrainian troops pulled out of the besieged flashpoint eastern town on February 18 after it was stormed by pro-Russian rebels in what the EU said was a \"clear violation\" of an internationally-backed truce. The retreat from Debaltseve -- a strategic railway hub sandwiched between the main rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Lugansk -- was a serious defeat for Poroshenko, who came to office vowing to crush the separatist uprising. AFP PHOTO / VASILY MAXIMOV
What will come after the Minsk negotiations? New escalations, new sanctions and then ceasefire again? And so on until one of the countries goes bankrupt? For Vitaliy Portnikov, this country will not be Ukraine.
