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Flare-up in eastern Ukraine

The crisis in eastern Ukraine is imploding into a broad-based war. The Russian proxies and the security forces of Ukraine are reportedly pitched in street fights, and this is quite unnerving for mediation efforts that are under way at this point of time.

Secondly, the new flare in fighting has literally brought to a standstill mopping and investigation at the crashed site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as authorities concerned are finding it increasingly difficult to gain access to the spot. A deal worked out by Kuala Lumpur with the ethnic Russians to provide them with unhindered access has also reportedly hit snags. The only good point as far ensuring a thorough investigation is concerned is that Russia has joined the international rescue and search efforts, and willing to cooperate with the European probe team in the strife-torn region.

The point of confrontation, however, is not how to get into the minute details of the crash, which killed 298 people on board MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, but the raising of stakes with each passing day. The verbal altercation between the Americans and the Russians speaks of a new Cold War in the making. Satellite images released by the White House indicate that Moscow is pouring in heavy arsenal across the restive borders in eastern Ukraine, which has helped the proxies gain a commanding control over the held areas. But Russian President Vladimir Putin says that is not an issue in the ongoing confrontation. The rising number of casualties and extensive firework in the entire region demands personal involvement by leaders of the European Union, Russia and Ukraine. The dispute is political and demands an extended dialogue. It has to be stemmed in order to avoid Balkanisation of Ukraine in a de jure context in weeks and months to come.