And another slant on the debate (over the debate) over arming Ukraine:
From our newsroom on this breaking story:
Reports from eastern Ukraine say at least three people have been killed in shelling that damaged a hospital.
French news agency AFP reported on February 4 that a body lay in front of the hospital in a western suburb of the rebel-held city of Donetsk, and two more dead civilians could be seen lying outside a nearby residential building.
Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk said more than 15 people were killed as the hospital in Tekstylshchyk neighborhood came under artillery fire.
Meanwhile, fighting between government forces and rebels for the control of the town of Debaltseve continued despite the OSCE's call for a cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of civilians.
The Ukrainian military said rebels used "all kinds of weapons" in nine attacks on its positions near Debaltseve overnight, but failed to dislodge government forces.
Separately, military spokesman Vyacheslav Seleznyov said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the previous 24 hours across eastern Ukraine, where the conflict has killed more than 5,350 people since April. (AFP, Interfax)
Here is the full text of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini's statement on events in eastern Ukraine:
The spiral of ever increasing violence in Eastern Ukraine needs to stop. The fighting provoked by the continued separatist offensive, notably around Debaltseve, is causing great human suffering and undermines all efforts aimed at a political solution. The shelling of civilians, wherever it happens, is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. Artillery should immediately be withdrawn from residential areas.
Residents of Ukraine's Donbas strive to flee the region and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen dramatically in the coldest period of the year. Civilians need to be able to leave the conflict zone safely. I join the call by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on all actors in and around the Debaltseve area to establish a local temporary truce for a minimum of three days, taking immediate effect.
Pope Francis speaking at his weekly general audience at the Vatican today:
"My thoughts go to the beloved people of Ukraine. (Applause). Unfortunately, the situation is worsening and so is the position of all of the parties involved. Let us pray for the victims, many of whom are civilians, and for their families and call on the Lord to stop, as early as possible, this horrible and violent fratricide."
"I renew my appeal until every force is used, even at an international level, for dialogue to restart, which is the only way to lead to peace and concord in this martyred land."
"I think of you, my Ukrainian brothers and sisters, think - this is a war between Christians, you all have the same baptism, Christians are fighting each other, think of this scandal. We will all pray because prayer is our protest in front of God in the time of war."