Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine today, according to the National Security and Defense Council:
In today's Daily Vertical, Brian Whitmore talks about the one key word missing from the cease-fire agreement reached last week in Minsk:
So is Debaltseve encircled or not?
Latest on the corridor:
Pro-Russian rebels have said they would open a safe corridor for Ukrainian forces out of the encircled town of Debaltseve in east Ukraine on condition that they surrender the territory.
The offer was rejected by the Ukrainian military.
A cease-fire in eastern Ukraine was negotiated last week, but the government-controlled town of Debaltseve has been hit by heavy fighting between rebels and thousands of Ukrainian troops effectively trapped there.
Eduard Basurin, an official of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, told Reuters on February 16 that Ukrianian troops would not be harmed if they laid down their weapons and left the town.
Ukrianian military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov said government troops would not leave because the town is located inside territory under Ukrainian control in accordance with the Minsk cease-fire deal reached last week.