Fresh Tensions in Eastern Ukraine Come At Difficult Times

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed with six wounded in rebel-held territory, and one Russian journalist was reportedly cured by doctors in Donetsk, marking an increase in violence ahead of trilateral gas negotiations to be held later this month.  

On Monday, foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany met in Berlin to discuss the ceasefire agreement.  

This comes at a moment when Kiev is clamping down on Ukrainian oligarchs, pushing Ihor Kolomoyskyi to resign from his position as Governor of Dnipropetrovsk. He controlled a local army, which was also in charge of staving off attacks from rebels from Luhansk and Donetsk. 

Meanwhile, Russia is proceeding with its two projects, giving them great visibility. Over the last hours, Gazprom publicised its activities in the Yamal Peninsula, and Rosneft announced the completion of the ‘world’s longest well at the Chayvo field’, part of Sakhalin-1 project. 

On Monday, a IEA report claimed that Ukraine is facing unprecedented challenges, with significant geopolitical and energy ramifications.