Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels 'sign ceasefire deal'

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12. Ukraine crisis: NATO agrees to cheer for Kyiv, but not much more

"An iron curtain has descended across the continent" - Sir Winston Churchill, Fulton, Missouri, 1946

Kicked out of power nine months earlier, Winston Churchill's vision was still clear when he warned of the "iron curtain" that divided Europe with the emergence of the postwar Soviet empire. Warsaw Pact on the right of your map, democracies on your left. The phrase stuck.

So, is the curtain back now?

Well, there are differences. For one thing, this one's not made of iron; in fact, it's downright mushy in the middle. For another, the Soviet empire is history. We hope.

One thing hasn't changed though: The line still runs to the west of Ukraine. Having lunged to cross to the western side, it seems Ukraine is still on the eastern one.

You don't have to be a Churchill to see what's been happening — certainly not after the NATO summit in Wales this week. Simply put, the Western allies are more than happy to make speeches about how very resolute they are — Churchillian, even — in defence of Ukraine.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-crisis-nato-agrees-to-cheer-for-kyiv-but-not-much-more-1.2756406