by Stephen Lendman

Fear-mongering is longstanding rogue state policy to scare people to believe nonexistent threats are real.

It's willful deception to get them go along with policies they're likely reject otherwise.

Ukrainian forces attack Donbass militia fighters and civilians daily. Violence surged lately.

Victims are blamed for Kiev high crimes. Addressing parliament on Thursday, Poroshenko ludicrously said Ukraine's military must defend against a possible "full-scale (Russian) invasion."

He lied claiming 9,000 Russian troop already operate in Ukraine. A "colossal threat" of resumed full-scale war looms, he blustered - only if junta forces initiate it, he didn't explain.

Instead he said "(t)he military must be ready as much for a renewal of an offensive by the enemy in the Donbass as they are for a full-scale invasion along the whole length of the border with Russia. We must be truly ready for this."

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf repeatedly blames Moscow and Donbass freedom fighters for Kiev high crimes.

On Thursday, she stopped short of hyping the threat of a full-scale Russian invasion. At the same time, she warned Moscow to refrain from nonexistent aggressive actions.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed increasing Donbass violence on Kiev. Its repeated provocations bear full responsibility.

The entire ugly business is orchestrated in Washington. The dirty scheme is Russia bashing - goading Putin to make a strategic mistake, aiming for replacing him with a convenient US stooge.

Moscow "profoundly regret(s) and (remains) deeply concerned about Kiev's failure to observe provisions of the Minsk agreements," Peskov said.

Fighting rages - notably in Maryinka on Wednesday. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said about 400 Ukrainian troops were killed, another 1,000 wounded.

DPR Defense Ministry spokesman Eduard Basurin said Kiev forces shelled Donetsk 46 times in the last 24 hours.

"The enemy used Grad multiple rocket launchers 3 times and carried out artillery shellings 21 times. They also used mortars, tanks, anti-aircraft installations, grenade launchers and small arms," he said.

Sixteen communities were targeted, he added. Security Council members met Friday to discuss Donbass developments - perhaps ahead of Kiev intending resumed full-scale aggression.

It's been rearming in preparation. At least 11 countries are supplying weapons and munitions intended solely for offense - not defense "to protect its territory from aggression."

Poroshenko lied to parliament on Thursday saying what everyone knows is untrue. Kiev's war on Donbass isn't defensive. It's not about eliminating area terrorism.

It's about Novorossiya Ukrainians wanting to live free from the scourge of fascism. It's about wanting democracy replacing it.

It's about fighting for fundamental freedoms everyone deserves. It's about tolerating no less.

Washington is Kiev's main weapons and munitions supplier - ongoing since conflict began in April 2013, systematically ignoring three ceasefire agreements. Obama claiming he hasn't yet decided on sending lethal arms is one of his many Big Lies.

Without US-led European support, Ukraine's regime would collapse. It's economy is bankrupt. It spends money it doesn't have.

IMF funds supposedly prohibit using them for war-making. They're for paying bankers first. Wiggle room lets Kiev use them for virtually anything - including waging war on its own people.

On Thursday, Sergey Lavrov said Minsk ceasefire terms "are under the constant threat of failure due to the actions of Kiev authorities who are trying not to comply with commitments on establishing a direct dialogue with Donbass."

A previous article said Minsk is dead. Kiev killed three ceasefires it agreed to - two last year, the most recent last February.

Each was dead on arrival. Kiev never intended to honor its agreements. Junta forces commit multiple daily ceasefire breaches showing regime authorities want war, not peace. So does its US puppet master.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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