NATO's Jens Stoltenberg unleashed the latest tirade against Russia this morning proclaiming - though offering no proof - that there are Russian forces and heavy equipment in Ukraine and a high number of Russian forces on the border which "doesn't contribute to a peaceful solution." Apparently pre-empting this outburst, Pravda reports Anatoly Tsyganok, director of the Military Forecasting Centre, exclaims, "Ukraine reiterates that Russia is in the war, but it's not true," adding that in fact "the USA and the NATO have artificial satellites continuously circulating above this territory and control the situation," concluding with a jab at The US & NATO that "Russia has never participated in the military conflict. And no attempt to involve Russia in the conflict will be crowned with success."

Putin offered a peace plan but it was rejected...As Reuters reports,

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko rejected a peace plan proposed to him last week by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday evening, according to Russian media. Peskov said the plan, contained in a letter sent by Putin on Thursday evening, proposed a ceasefire by both government forces and separatist militiamen in southeastern Ukraine, as well as the withdrawal of heavy artillery by both sides. "In recent days, Russia has consistently undertaken efforts as an intermediary in regulating the conflict," Peskov said in comments quoted by the ITAR TASS news agency. "In particular, on Thursday night a written address was sent by the president of Russia to the president of Ukraine, in which a concrete plan was proposed to both sides in the conflict to withdraw heavy artillery." A copy of the letter was published by the Russian television channel NTV. In it, Putin proposed "urgent measures for the cessation of mutual shelling, and also the rapid withdrawal by the sides in the conflict of means of destruction with a caliber higher than 100 mm".

Because...

Putin sought to burnish his peacemaking credentials last week by proposing a ceasefire to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko under which the sides would withdraw heavy artillery. The proposal was seen by Kiev as an attempt to evade some parts of the Minsk agreement, cement rebel territorial gains and disguise the fact that Putin has no real peace plan. "If Putin really wanted peace in east Ukraine, he would have only one 'peace plan', Boris Vishnevsky, an opposition member of the St Petersburg local assembly, wrote in a blog. "A peace plan is very simple. If Putin does not propose one, it means he does not need peace."

NATO's Stoltenberg was vociferous...

*NATO'S STOLTENBERG: CONCERNED ABOUT ESCALATION IN UKRAINE

*STOLTENBERG: HAVE SEEN PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN FORCES IN UKRAINE

*STOLTENBERG: WE CALL ON RUSSIA TO STOP SUPPORT OF SEPERATISTS

*STOLTENBERG: WE CALL ON RUSSIA TO RESPECT INTL OBLIGATIONS

*STOLTENBERG: CALLS ON RUSSIA TO UPHOLD MINSK AGREEMENTS

*STOLTENBERG: SEEN INCREASE OF RUSSIA HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN UKRAINE

*STOLTENBERG: RUSSIANS HAVE `HIGH NUMBER' OF FORCES ON BORDER

*STOLTENBERG: THERE ARE RUSSIAN FORCES INSIDE EASTERN UKRAINE

*STOLTENBERG: SEEN INCREASE IN RUSSIAN EQUIPMENT IN UKRAINE

*STOLTENBERG: THIS DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO PEACEFUL SOLUTION

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But Russia responds, via Pravda,

Vladimir Putin reportedly put forward a new heavy artillery withdrawal plan to Petro Poroshenko. Kiev rejected it, but did not propose anything instead. Later Ukrainian authorities suggested that Moscow should sign a schedule for the implementation of the Minsk agreements. That is, the same thing is suggested but from different positions. Anatoly Tsyganok, director of the Military Forecasting Centre, a candidate of military sciences and an associate of the Academy of Military Sciences, explained in an interview to Pravda.Ru whether there was a way out. "Ukraine reiterates that Russia is in the war, but it's not true. Yes, there are certain specialists and weaponry, but Russia is not participating. If we take a closer look, the weaponry acquired by volunteer corps had been originally purchased through one oligarch. Weaponry was not only seized in battles. Not far from Donetsk there is a heavy equipment depot with around 400 tanks and 200 armoured personnel carriers. Ukraine repeats that Russia brings its troops, but in fact the USA and the NATO have artificial satellites continuously circulating above this territory and control the situation. These borders are also controlled by unmanned aerial vehicles," Anatoly Tsyganok observed. As the expert said in the conversation with a Pravda.Ru correspondent, whereas in summer the OSCE's attitude to this situation was somewhat indistinct, now the OSCE clearly claims that Russia is violating all international agreements. "Agreements that Ukraine is trying to thrust on Russia are unrealizable because Russia has never participated in the military conflict. And no attempt to involve Russia in the conflict will be crowned with success," Anatoly Tsyganok stressed.

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The propaganda battle continues...