Ukraine Airport Battle Rages as Conflict Lurches Back Toward War

Ukraine lurched back toward full-scale conflict as government troops sought to repel an assault by pro-Russian insurgents for control of an eastern airport.

Ukrainian servicemen were holding their positions yesterday evening at Donetsk airport, which has been mostly destroyed since a revamp that ended in 2012, a military spokesman said on Facebook. Earlier, Ukraine said cease-fire violations had surged to a record, the nation’s Security council warned the unrest may spark a “continental war” and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel called for emergency peace talks.