What's happening in Ukraine? Gorbachev had it right. We're in a new Cold War with Russia. The epicenter of the new Cold War is not in Berlin, like the last one, but it's right on Russia's borders, so it's much more dangerous. ... I regret to say: A political dispute in Ukraine became a Ukrainian civil war. Russia backed one side; the United States and NATO, the other. So it's not only a new Cold War, it's a proxy war.

Since the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine eight months ago, the Kremlin has denied any direct involvement, including sending Russian troops. But there are Russian fighters on the ground who are proud to announce their presence - and to discuss their ideas of "holy war".

Despite repeated claims that Russia has engaged in a full-scale invasion, even Ukrainian Colonel-General Viktor Muzhenko, chief of the general staff, recently admitted that there is no Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's top general is contradicting allegations by the Obama Administration and by his own Ukrainian Government, by saying that no Russian troops are fighting against the Ukrainian Government's forces in the formerly Ukrainian, but now separatist, area...

Yes, there are Russian volunteers fighting alongside the DPR and LPR. That is no surprise, given the extent of historical, cultural, ethnic, religious, political and economic integration between Russia and Ukraine, but it's worlds apart from the Russian government actually sending troops and hardware across the border.

Ukrainian government forces used cluster munitions in populated areas in Donetsk city in early October 2014, Human Rights Watch said today. The use of cluster munitions in populated areas violates the laws of war due to the indiscriminate nature of the weapon and may amount to war crimes.

Children continue to live under constant threat of shelling. More than 740 schools — one in five across the conflict affected area — have been damaged or destroyed.

Vladimir Bovrichev, 30, cries next to the body of his son Artiam, 4, killed in a Ukrainian army artillery strike... A Ukrainian woman begs Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to stop the bombing in Donetsk after a shell hit the residential area where she lives, killing two civilians in the Kyibishevsky district... A DNR officer talks on the phone in Hospital Nº 3 after it was hit by Ukrainian Army artillery in Donetsk's Kalininsky district... A Ukrainian woman waits inside a building for shelling to abate after a Ukrainian army shell hit a bus stop in the Kievsky district in Donetsk...

Russia is now fighting against Ukraine, in Ukraine. Russian troops and Russian tanks are attacking the Ukrainian forces. And while talking about peace, Russia has not made one single step to make peace possible. Instead of de-escalating the crisis, Russia has only deepened it.

Officials in Washington have floated the idea of sending lethal aid to Kiev for the fight against Russia-backed separatists.

On the question whether or not our military is in Ukraine, I am telling to you directly and clearly: there are no Russian troops.