Options narrow for Ukraine's Poroshenko after Debaltseve defeat


Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko talks to military staff in Kiev February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - The loss of the key town of Debaltseve to Russian-backed separatists, the latest in a string of big battlefield defeats for Ukraine, narrows the options for President Poroshenko in his dealings both with Moscow and with the West.

No sooner did the strategic railway junction fall to the rebels on Wednesday, with thousands of Ukrainian soldiers withdrawing under fire, than separatists re-opened another old front, attacking government positions near Mariupol, a strategic coastal city in the south-east.

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

UK police arrest Sudanese man after four die in Channel boat crossing
One dead, 27 injured as bus carrying British tourists crashes in Spain's La Gomera
Estonia says detaining Russia's tankers in Baltic Sea is too risky
Exclusive-Coordinated Telegram posts push pro-Orban narratives on eve of Hungary vote, research shows
Russian investigative journalist is placed in pre-trial detention
Factbox-Key facts about Sunday's election in Hungary and possible outcomes
Analysis-Iran war leaves crisis-scarred countries counting the cost
Former Russian defence official is jailed for 19 years for corruption
Vance warns Iran not to "play us" as he leaves for talks
Mali backs Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara

Others Also Read