In today's Daily Vertical, Brian Whitmore says Moscow's ace in the hole -- the link between Kyiv's control of Ukraine's external borders and decentralization -- makes it easy for Moscow to simply restart the war whenever it chooses.
Another item from our news desk:
Spain has arrested eight Spanish citizens for fighting alongside pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions.
Spanish police officials say the eight Spaniards, whose names were not disclosed, were detained on February 27 in six regions across Spain: Asturias, Catalonia, Extremadura, Murcia, Navarra and Madrid.
A police statement says the eight were accused of several offenses but gave no details.
Media in Spain cite sources close to the investigation as saying that the charges could include possession of weapons of war, complicity in homicide, and violating Spain's neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.
Pro-Russian forces in the eastern Donbass region are battling those troops from the pro-European Ukrainian government.
The conflict, which has killed at least 5,800 people since April, has raised tensions between the West and Moscow to heights reminiscent of the Cold War.
(AP, El Pais)