Europe Revolts Against Russian Sanctions
From ministerial offices to barricades on the streets, Europe is in open revolt against anti-Russian sanctions which have cost workers and businesses millions of jobs and earnings. Granted, the contentious issues are wider than anti-Russian sanctions. However, the latter are entwined with growing popular discontent across the EU. Germany’s...
Savchenko’s release from Russia isn’t about solving the situation in Donbas
Jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko was sent back to her homeland from Russia in a prisoner swap as diplomacy to end the separatist conflict on the two nations’ border gathers pace. After being pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin, she arrived by plane Wednesday afternoon in the capital, Kiev, greeted by her mother and her...
Gorbachev Banned From Ukraine
Former Soviet leader won’t be able to visit for five years because of support for Crimea annexation. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Surkov-Nuland Talks on Ukraine: A Nontransparent Channel (Part Two)
*To read Part One, please click here. US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held talks, in Moscow, with Russian presidential advisor Vladislav Surkov, on May 17–18 (see Part One). According to the United States government’s official account of the meeting, the talks focused on improving security “in the Donbas” (sic) as well as...
Surkov-Nuland Talks on Ukraine: A Nontransparent Channel (Part One)
Informal discussions are sputtering along between Washington and Moscow over implementation of the Minsk armistice in Ukraine. This bilateral process originated in May 2015 as an accompaniment to the Barack Obama administration’s decision to seek Russia’s “help” on Syria. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has been tasked to...
Euphoria in Kyiv and Soul-Searching in Moscow After Prisoner Exchange
Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian air force helicopter pilot, was captured by Moscow-backed separatist forces during fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, in the summer of 2014, and ended up in a Russian jail. Savchenko was serving in Donbas as a volunteer soldier with a local volunteer infantry battalion, “Aydar,” while on leave from...
Netherlands Moves World Toward Safer Wartime Schools
“And this is the computer room!” exclaimed the jovial sports teacher, throwing his arms out wide as we entered a classroom at School Number Four in the town of Krasnohorivka in eastern Ukraine. I looked around the classroom, confused. Not only were there no computers, there were not even desks or chairs. The room was bare. A group of teachers...
Kremlin Critic Taken Off the Air
A popular talk show on Ekho Moskvy, a bastion of independence in Russia, goes silent. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand addresses PC, expresses support for Europe’s fundamental values – human rights, democracy and rule of law
VIENNA, 26 May 2016 – Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today Estonia’s Foreign Minister and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers Marina Kaljurand underlined her country’s strong support for Europe’s fundamental values – human rights, democracy and the rule of law – and called for mutual...
NATO is willing to provide financial, advisory and other assistance to Ukraine
NATO is willing to provide financial, advisory and other assistance to Ukraine so Ukraine’s realistic requests and abilities to use this assistance are key. This opinion was expressed by Co-director of Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes of the Razumkov Centre Oleksiy Melnyk, informs the website Obozrevatel ....