The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been marked by recent escalations and alleged violations of international law, according to a statement presented during an OSCE meeting. Reports indicate that combined Russian-separatist forces launched attacks on June 3 near Donetsk city, involving over 1,000 personnel and 20 tanks. The Ukrainian military expressed regret to the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) for needing to reposition weapons to defend against these assaults.
Efforts to establish a ceasefire were initially unsuccessful as attempts by the SMM to engage with "leaders" of the "Donetsk People’s Republic" were rejected. A ceasefire was eventually achieved by nightfall, though tensions remain high.
The United States has highlighted Russia's role in perpetuating instability in eastern Ukraine through the provision of support to separatists. On June 1, the SMM documented significant numbers of tanks in territories controlled by separatist groups. The UN has also reported continued supply of sophisticated weaponry from Russia.
In addition to military developments, diplomatic efforts have faced setbacks. The Trilateral Contact Group's meeting was postponed due to a disagreement over the status of separatists, causing frustration among participants. Progress was made in some working groups regarding elections and security issues; however, these advancements could not be fully discussed due to Russia's objections.
Concerns have been raised about Russia's commitment to peace agreements. Despite discussions emphasizing the importance of resolving key issues without unnecessary procedural disputes, focus on separatists' status has hindered progress towards peaceful resolution.
A series of events over recent weeks have underscored ongoing challenges: capture of Russian military personnel within Ukraine; reports of Russian vehicles and fighters; obstructionism affecting diplomatic talks; and new large-scale attacks leading to further loss of life.
Critics argue that discrepancies between Russia’s dialogue and actions undermine political solutions. They call for adherence to commitments under the Minsk agreements for peaceful resolution in eastern Ukraine.
Russia is urged to take responsibility for preventing further aggression and supporting ceasefire measures. This includes releasing hostages like Nadiya Savchenko and Oleg Sentsov, ceasing support for separatists, allowing full border monitoring access by SMM, respecting Ukrainian sovereignty, and ending Crimea occupation.
Failure by Russia to meet these obligations may result in additional repercussions related to its actions concerning Ukraine’s sovereignty.