US, EU must respond to escalation in Donbas - Rasmussen

"This aggression must be condemned by US and EU, and Putin must understand that only path to better West/Russia relations runs through Ukraine," Rasmussen wrote on his Twitter account.

He called disturbing today's escalation when Russian-led forces attacked multiple Ukrainian positions and used weapons banned by the Minsk agreements.

Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi early on Tuesday, February 18. The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line.

According to the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation, one Ukrainian military has been killed, and another four have been wounded. The enemy's losses are tentatively estimated to be much higher.

op