United western front on Ukraine

The fighting between government forces and separatists in eastern Ukraine has flared up again despite attempts to ease the tension through a cease-fire agreement, signed in Minsk on Sept. 5, 2014. After a December lull, the separatists renewed their attacks with not-so-hidden Russian support, pushing the country into a deeper chaos. According to the U.N., at least 5,000 people have been killed and more than half a million have been displaced in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.

Although the Minsk Protocol called for an immediate cease-fire, the removal of military formations and equipment, and the establishment of permanent monitoring at the Ukraine-Russia border, both sides have violated it repeatedly. With the latest attacks, using classic Soviet/Russian military tactics, the rebel forces have been able to create a unified base area for their uprising. The main question now is whether they will push toward the west to enlarge the area, or down south to connect with Crimea.

The collapse of the Minsk Protocol and continued Russian support to rebel forces is forcing the U.S. and the EU to reconsider their strategy of relying on economic sanctions to prevent Russian revisionism in its near-abroad. Until recently, the Obama administration in the U.S. has been very cautious on providing direct military aid to Ukraine for fear of further deterioration of relations with Russia. But the latest reports, documenting further Russian involvement, prompted a re-evaluation and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Ukraine on Feb. 6 to show solidarity with Ukraine and assess the situation. The U.S. is now closer to supplying non-offensive defense systems to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François...