The Wire

With the Russian-backed rebels closing in on a strategic rail hub north east of Donetsk, the US is talking about providing “Lethal Aid”. That means bullets. But it will mean guns as well as the Ukraine army uses old Soviet weaponry. The conflict is fast escalating into a proxy war between Russia and the US as Germany and the EU rule out any military help. Secretary of State John Kerry is due in Kiev on Thursday.

Dr Adam Lockyer
Dr Alexey Muraviev