Manchin's censure idea and Idlib clashes on 4 February 2020
A look back at two stories from the days around 4 February 2020: a senator's censure proposal over pressure on Ukraine, and deadly fighting in Idlib.
What did the news on 4 February 2020 reveal about the pressure around Ukraine and the wider region? The reports from the preceding day, 3 February, pointed in two directions.
In Washington, during the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin asked colleagues to consider censuring Trump as an alternative to impeachment. The censure would concern his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate domestic political rivals. Manchin was considered friendly with the White House.
In north-western Syria, Syrian Army shelling killed Turkish military personnel in Idlib Governorate, and Turkish forces retaliated. A pro-opposition war monitor said the retaliation killed 13 Syrian soldiers, which Syria denied. Turkish President Erdoğan said the shelling killed five Turkish soldiers and three civilian personnel, with nine others injured, and that the Russians needed to stand aside. The Russian Ministry of Defence said Turkey had moved troops inside the de-escalation zone without notifying the Russian side.
The two stories were unconnected, but both showed how disputes far from Kyiv were drawing in questions of pressure, responsibility and escalation.
