Kiev and kremlin trade blame over surge in east ukraine fighting

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Kiev and Kremlin Trade Blame Over Surge in East Ukraine Fighting

The Ukrainian government and Russia have traded blame over a surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, with both sides accusing each other of escalating the conflict.

The clashes, which began on Friday, have resulted in several deaths and injuries, and have raised concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of orchestrating the violence, saying that Russian-backed separatists had launched a "large-scale" attack on Ukrainian positions.

"We have evidence that Russia is directly involved in the escalation of the situation," Zelensky said in a statement.

However, Russia denied any involvement, with the Kremlin saying that Ukraine was responsible for the violence.

"The Ukrainian military is trying to shift the blame onto Russia, but the facts speak for themselves," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The fighting has occurred in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which have been the site of a separatist conflict since 2014.

The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people and has displaced millions.

The international community has called for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations to resolve the conflict.

The United States has condemned the violence, with a State Department spokesperson saying that "Russia must stop supporting the separatists and work towards a peaceful resolution."

The European Union has also called for an immediate ceasefire and for all parties to respect the Minsk agreements, which aim to bring peace to the region.

The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreements.

It remains to be seen whether the violence will escalate further, but the international community is urging both sides to return to the negotiating table and work towards a peaceful resolution.