Try again - Ceasefire in jeopardy

IT is tragic but not unexpected that the ceasefire agreed between France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia last week seems as ineffective as earlier agreements made in efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Yesterday pro-Russian rebels bombarded government troops encircled in east Ukraine and a plan for both sides to withdraw their heavy guns stalled, suggesting the tentative peace deal is not working.

It is always difficult to make judgments in situations like this, but it is hard to imagine that the pro-Russian forces would be so very assertive, or so aggressive, without at least the tacit support of the Kremlin. Some sources have suggested that pro-Russian forces wish to hold ground captured before the peace deal was agreed and if this is the case then the prospect of peace becomes ever more remote.