Ukraine’s new ceasefire is in danger of collapsing, as Russian-backed separatists continue their assault of a strategic town in the east, apparently taking control of the only road that government troops could use as a supply line.  Neither side has begun withdraw heavy weaponry, as specified in the ceasefire agreed to last Sunday.

Kiev says it will not pull back until fighting ended in the beleaguered town of Debaltseve, which the separatists covet for its strategic railway hub.  They dubiously claim that the cease-fire agreed to by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany doesn’t apply to the area around Debaltseve.  The rebels say they will allow the 8,000 Ukrainian troops trapped in the city to surrender and retreat.

Fighting is also reported near the southern port city of Mariupol, and the rebels accuse government forces of shelling Donetsk airport.

Meanwhile, the EU is imposing more sanctions against a list of Russians and Ukrainian rebels.  Most of the names on the list come from the pro-Russian separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk.  But two Russian deputy defense ministers are targeted, as is a Russian celebrity singer and MP named Iosif Kobzon – known locally as the Russian Frank Sinatra.  “I spit on their sanctions,” he said on Russian TV.