SACEUR Gen. Philip Breedlove, June 30, 2014 (photo: Department of Defense)

Nato’s top general has noted a “fairly important uptick” in fighting in eastern Ukraine in recent days, casting doubts over whether the cease-fire between the Kiev government and Moscow-backed separatists can survive.

In a press conference US general Philip Breedlove, the defence organisation’s supreme allied commander for Europe, said Nato was considering beefing up its military exercises in the Baltic region as a response to the Ukrainian situation and increased Russian activity in the region, reports Henry Foy.

[Breedlove] There has been an uptick, a fairly important uptick in the fighting across the last couple of days. Yes, there was a lull through both holiday periods. But what there was not a lull in is the continued resupply, continued training, and continued organisation of forces east of the line of contact.