On Saturday, Contact Group representatives met in Minsk. Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini represented the OSCE.

Russian ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov, represented Moscow. Former President Leonid Kuchma represented Kiev.

Donetsk People’s Republic (DRP) parliament Speaker Denis Pushilin and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) chief negotiator Vladislav Deinego participated.

Talks accomplished nothing. Kiev wants war, not peace. More on this below.

Kuchma accused Donbas officials of refusing “to discuss a plan of measures for a quick ceasefire and a pull-back of heavy weapons.”

“The Ukrainian side does not accept any ultimatums or preliminary conditions,” he hyperventilated.

Pushilin said Donbas wants constructive dialogue. “(N)ot (Kiev) ultimatums while shelling by their forces is going on…”

“(T)oday’s meeting was (not) productive,” he explained. “We have only just managed to exchange our stances.”

Last April, Kiev launched premeditated aggression on Donbas. Fighting continues. No end of conflict looms.

It “led to a huge civilian death toll, destruction of infrastructure and residential areas…(It) forced us to launch a counteroffensive and the line of contact has changed its boundaries,” Pushilin explained.

LPR leader Igor Plotnitsky said Kiev failed to fulfill its Minsk requirement by failing to appoint official representatives to Saturday’s talks.

Kuchma is a private citizen. He showed up with an undated document saying nothing about his authorization to represent Kiev.

According to Plotnitsky and Pushilin, doing so “relieve(d) him from responsibility in the event of not fulfilling the agreement.”

Tass reported no future meeting date discussed. Earlier Geneva and Minsk talks accomplished nothing. Kiev violated agreed on terms straightaway.

Deinego said:

“A presumable date for the document stipulating the settlement in the war-torn Donbass, which should be signed by leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics…was not on the table of the (Saturday) Minsk talks.” Because of a “differences in attitudes,” he explained.

“It was put off until accord on the main issue – a ceasefire – is reached but…Poroshenko’s decree is needed here as no-one can believe a ceasefire will materialise until a decree of this kind is officially published and released.”

Pushilin said follow-up discussions depend on Kiev’s policy. “(W)e’ve displayed a stance that’s up to the point,” he explained.

“We also presented all the arguments that would help prevent more shelling and what’s needed now for the Prime Ministers of the two republics (Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky) to come to Minsk is practical ceasefire.”

“What’s needed is Poroshenko’s relevant order to all the units of the Armed Forces and the ‘national guard,’ ” he said.

“Firing by (Kiev) troops has to stop,” he stressed. Donbas “leaders are fully involved in repelling attacks.”

A Friday Russian Foreign Ministry statement said:

“Regrettably, not a day passes without tragic news coming from Donbass about the barbaric actions from the Ukrainian security forces that are affecting innocent civilian victims.”

“Today as well, reports are coming in about the shelling of civilian targets in Donetsk, among them community centres and public transit stops, leading to civilian casualties and injuries.”

“Once again, we urge the Kiev authorities to come to their senses and end this cruel war against their own people.”

“Solutions to any problems should be sought at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield.”

From last August through January, Russia sent 11 humanitarian convoys to Donbas. Delivered about 14,800 tons of vitally need food, medicines, medical equipment and other essential supplies.

On January 31, a 12th convoy was dispatched. Carrying 1,500 tons of food, medical supplies, fuel, lubricants and other supplies.

Kiev calls humanitarian Russian aid “direct invasion(s)” of Ukrainian territory. Junta officials want Donbas residents starved to death.

Russia is the only nation sending essential relief aid. US-led Western ones are part of the problem, not the solution,

Donbas is Obama’s war. Using Ukraine forces as US proxies. Murdering noncombatant men, women and children.

Washington continues supplying lethal heavy weapons covertly for genocidal war. US military forces are directly involved. So are Western mercenaries.

So-called peace talks are cover for escalated war. On Friday, Kiev forces shelled Donetsk. At least 12 civilians queued for humanitarian aid were killed. Others injured.

City officials said “(t)he cultural center giving out humanitarian aid was shelled. There are victims.”

Firing came from Opytnoye. A neutral zone north of Donetsk’s airport. Donbas officials said Kiev forces “approached it. Shelled the city and then moved back to their positions.”

Willfully killing civilians. Like so many times before. War crimes by any standard. Western officials turn a blind eye. MSM reports blame rebels for Kiev crimes.

Its national security and defense council press representative Vladimir Polevoy lied blaming rebels for Friday’s attack.

A “provocation (to) disrupt the peace process and the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk,” he claimed.

Kiev artillery “never did and does not shell residential areas.” Polar opposite clear, indisputable hard facts.

Blaming self-defense forces for Kiev crimes doesn’t wash. Convincing evidence proves otherwise.

On Saturday, Tass reported DPR and LPR officials citing evidence of Kiev preparing for escalated fighting. A new offensive.

According to Deinego, “there is information from…intelligence (soures) and (Kiev POWs) on the preparation of another attack.”

Rebels responded by “push(ing) Ukrainian artillery away from the residential areas,” he said.

Escalated fighting could begin any time. With full US support and encouragement. Pentagon officials announced sending US forces to directly aid Kiev’s military.

Including its infamous National Guard. Infested with neo-Nazis like Azov Battalion members. Involved in committing horrific atrocities.

Azov states it aims “(t)o prepare Ukraine for further expansion and to struggle for the liberation of the entire white race from the domination of the internationalist speculative capital.”

It wants what it calls “sexual perversions and any interracial contacts that lead to the extinction of the white man” punished.

It urges a white Christian crusade against “subhuman” Jews and other minorities.

It openly displays Nazi symbols and insignia. Including a modified Wolf’s Hook. A black sun (Hakensonne).

The designation Black Corps used by Hitler’s Waffen SS. German television showed Azov members wearing uniforms with Nazi swastikas and SS symbols.

According to one unnamed militant, “(t)o become an Azov fighter, you have to be a proper white man.”

Most are Nazis, anti-Semites and white supremacists. Azov officials are Kiev parliamentary members.

Holding influential regime positions. Including its leader Andriy Biletsky. Poroshenko awarded him an “Order For Courage.”

According to Biletsky:

“The historic mission of our nation in this critical moment is to lead the white races of the world in a final crusade for their survival.”

“A crusade against the Semite-led sub-humans. The task of the present generation is to create a Third Empire.”

He and likeminded lunatics are Obama’s new friends. One fascist regime supports another.

Russia is irresponsibly blamed for their crimes. Ongoing with no end in sight. Likely heading for something much more serious.

East/West confrontation. European war pitting America against Russia. The unthinkable heads closer to being possible.

MSM/Kiev propaganda blames phantom Russian invaders. At the same time, Ukraine’s military chief of staff, Viktor Muzhenko, admitted none involved in Donbas fighting on national television.

“Right now the Ukrainian army is not engaged in combat operations against Russian regular units,” he explained.

Poroshenko lied claiming 9,000 Russian troops in Ukraine. Citing no corroborating evidence. None exists.

According to a Ukrainian military staff statement:

“There is absolutely no way you can possibly hide huge military formations on a relatively small territory wide open to reporters and OSCE representatives.”

No satellite or other intelligence show Russian military forces in Ukraine. Claims otherwise are Big Lies.

Kremlin authorities dismiss these type accusations as “primitive fake(s).” Propaganda devoid of truth.

Rebels continue routing Kiev military forces. Growing numbers want no part of war.

Thousands ignore conscription orders. They refuse to fight their own citizens.

Reports indicate about 1.2 million military-aged males fled Ukraine for Russia. According to Moscow’s Federal Migration Service, more than 2.4 million Ukrainians entered Russian territory.

Plus hundreds of thousands more to Crimea and Donbas Oblast areas. It bears repeating. Ongoing conflict threatens to explode into something much more serious.

Unthinkable if Washington challenges Russia militarily. Obama wants congressional authorization for unconstrained war at his discretion. Granting it could be prelude to WW III.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.