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| Ukrainian President Ends Cease-Fire With Rebels | Ukrainian President Ends Cease-Fire With Rebels |
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| MOSCOW — President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said early Tuesday that he had ordered a resumption of military efforts to crush a pro-Russian separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine, formally ending a cease-fire after 10 days because, he said, rebels had refused to put down their weapons and had persisted in attacking government troops. | |
| Mr. Poroshenko’s order came after he and the leaders of Russia, Germany and France held a four-way conference call — their second in two days — aimed at promoting the peace process. | Mr. Poroshenko’s order came after he and the leaders of Russia, Germany and France held a four-way conference call — their second in two days — aimed at promoting the peace process. |
| “We will attack and liberate our land,” Mr. Poroshenko said in a televised statement to the nation broadcast after midnight. “Termination of the cease-fire is our response to terrorists, insurgents, marauders, everyone who tortures civilians, paralyzes the economy of the region, disrupts payments of salaries, pensions, scholarships, blasts the railroad, destroys the water pipes and deprives people of normal peaceful life.” | “We will attack and liberate our land,” Mr. Poroshenko said in a televised statement to the nation broadcast after midnight. “Termination of the cease-fire is our response to terrorists, insurgents, marauders, everyone who tortures civilians, paralyzes the economy of the region, disrupts payments of salaries, pensions, scholarships, blasts the railroad, destroys the water pipes and deprives people of normal peaceful life.” |
| European leaders on Friday issued an ultimatum to Russia, saying that they were prepared to impose additional economic sanctions if concrete steps were not taken by Monday toward ending the violence. Fighting, however, had continued unabated with additional casualties, and there was little progress toward the goals set by the Europeans. | European leaders on Friday issued an ultimatum to Russia, saying that they were prepared to impose additional economic sanctions if concrete steps were not taken by Monday toward ending the violence. Fighting, however, had continued unabated with additional casualties, and there was little progress toward the goals set by the Europeans. |
| After the conference call on Monday, President François Hollande of France and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, each issued statements stressing the importance of achieving a truce. “The main goal should be achieving a mutual cease-fire,” Ms. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said. | After the conference call on Monday, President François Hollande of France and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, each issued statements stressing the importance of achieving a truce. “The main goal should be achieving a mutual cease-fire,” Ms. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said. |
| The Kremlin also issued a statement, saying that President Vladimir V. Putin had specifically “stressed the importance of extending the cease-fire,” which Mr. Poroshenko imposed unilaterally on June 20 and which formally expired at 10 p.m. Monday. | The Kremlin also issued a statement, saying that President Vladimir V. Putin had specifically “stressed the importance of extending the cease-fire,” which Mr. Poroshenko imposed unilaterally on June 20 and which formally expired at 10 p.m. Monday. |
| In his statement, however, Mr. Poroshenko, asserted that previous steps agreed upon by the four leaders had not been fulfilled. After the conference call, he held a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, and in his televised speech, he said he had concluded that rebel leaders had no control over the fighters and that government troops could not just defend themselves in the face of continuing attacks. | In his statement, however, Mr. Poroshenko, asserted that previous steps agreed upon by the four leaders had not been fulfilled. After the conference call, he held a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, and in his televised speech, he said he had concluded that rebel leaders had no control over the fighters and that government troops could not just defend themselves in the face of continuing attacks. |
| “Peace was, is and will be my goal,” Mr. Poroshenko said in the statement. “What is changing are only the tools to achieve it.” | “Peace was, is and will be my goal,” Mr. Poroshenko said in the statement. “What is changing are only the tools to achieve it.” |
| Although Mr. Poroshenko’s announcement suggested a full-scale resumption of the military’s campaign against the rebels, it was unclear whether his order would change much. Since the separatist insurrection began about three months ago, government forces have been unable to contain the rebellion, and there have been hundreds of casualties on each side. | Although Mr. Poroshenko’s announcement suggested a full-scale resumption of the military’s campaign against the rebels, it was unclear whether his order would change much. Since the separatist insurrection began about three months ago, government forces have been unable to contain the rebellion, and there have been hundreds of casualties on each side. |
| The Ukrainian government and its allies in the West, including the United States, have accused Russia of supplying tanks, artillery and other weapons to the rebels and of allowing Russian citizens to cross the border to join the rebel militias. Russia has denied supplying tanks, and has accused the United States intelligence services of aiding the Ukrainian government in attacking the separatists, who are often referred to as “protesters” by the Kremlin. | The Ukrainian government and its allies in the West, including the United States, have accused Russia of supplying tanks, artillery and other weapons to the rebels and of allowing Russian citizens to cross the border to join the rebel militias. Russia has denied supplying tanks, and has accused the United States intelligence services of aiding the Ukrainian government in attacking the separatists, who are often referred to as “protesters” by the Kremlin. |
| There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin to Mr. Poroshenko’s announcement, but Mr. Putin has repeatedly blamed the Ukrainian government for the continuing violence in the east. | There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin to Mr. Poroshenko’s announcement, but Mr. Putin has repeatedly blamed the Ukrainian government for the continuing violence in the east. |
| In nascent peace talks last week led by the former Ukrainian president Leonid M. Kuchma, rebel leaders demanded a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian military forces as a precondition to formal peace negotiations. | In nascent peace talks last week led by the former Ukrainian president Leonid M. Kuchma, rebel leaders demanded a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian military forces as a precondition to formal peace negotiations. |
| In his statement, Mr. Poroshenko insisted that the Ukrainian government had done its utmost to bring peace to the eastern region, known as the Donbass. | In his statement, Mr. Poroshenko insisted that the Ukrainian government had done its utmost to bring peace to the eastern region, known as the Donbass. |
| He added that “a unique opportunity” for peace had been lost “because of the criminal actions of the militants.” The Ukrainian government said that at least 27 of its soldiers had been killed in the days since Mr. Poroshenko declared the cease-fire. | He added that “a unique opportunity” for peace had been lost “because of the criminal actions of the militants.” The Ukrainian government said that at least 27 of its soldiers had been killed in the days since Mr. Poroshenko declared the cease-fire. |
| At a news briefing in Washington on Monday, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the top NATO commander, said that Russia was continuing to arm Ukrainian separatists despite the truce, that the military equipment provided included antiaircraft weapons. | At a news briefing in Washington on Monday, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the top NATO commander, said that Russia was continuing to arm Ukrainian separatists despite the truce, that the military equipment provided included antiaircraft weapons. |
| A number of Ukrainian aircraft have been shot down by separatists in recent weeks, including a military transport plane that was downed last month, killing 49. Last week, a military helicopter was shot down, killing nine. | A number of Ukrainian aircraft have been shot down by separatists in recent weeks, including a military transport plane that was downed last month, killing 49. Last week, a military helicopter was shot down, killing nine. |
| General Breedlove said there was a “very good likelihood” that Russian-supplied antiaircraft weapons had been used to shoot down the aircraft, though he added, “We haven’t tied the strings directly together yet.” | General Breedlove said there was a “very good likelihood” that Russian-supplied antiaircraft weapons had been used to shoot down the aircraft, though he added, “We haven’t tied the strings directly together yet.” |
| Among those killed in the continuing violence on Monday was a Russian television cameraman, Anatoly Klyan, who had worked for the state-controlled Channel One for 40 years. | Among those killed in the continuing violence on Monday was a Russian television cameraman, Anatoly Klyan, who had worked for the state-controlled Channel One for 40 years. |
| According to Channel One, Mr. Klyan, 68, and his crew were traveling on a small bus with the mothers of conscripted soldiers, and other journalists, to a Ukrainian military base north of the regional capital of Donetsk, when the bus came under small-arms fire by Ukrainian troops. | According to Channel One, Mr. Klyan, 68, and his crew were traveling on a small bus with the mothers of conscripted soldiers, and other journalists, to a Ukrainian military base north of the regional capital of Donetsk, when the bus came under small-arms fire by Ukrainian troops. |
| Mr. Klyan was shot in the stomach. Video images of the episode showed him on the bus, continuing to film after being shot. He could then be heard saying that he was no longer strong enough to hold his camera. | Mr. Klyan was shot in the stomach. Video images of the episode showed him on the bus, continuing to film after being shot. He could then be heard saying that he was no longer strong enough to hold his camera. |
| Channel One said that the trip had been organized by rebel fighters. | Channel One said that the trip had been organized by rebel fighters. |