Putin admitted that the Minsk Agreements fully met Russian interests
Putin’s statement on the refusal to return control over the state border in the occupied Donbas to Kyiv indicates that the Minsk Agreements are in strict accordance with Russia’s strategy on the resolution of this conflict – this is not a Ukrainian plan. This opinion was expressed by Co-director of Foreign Relations and International...
European Envoys Press Kyiv on Minsk Deal
Ukrainian parliament reportedly lacks votes to pass crucial constitutional amendment backed by Brussels and Washington. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Russia: Turn to China?
After its relations with the West deteriorated massively in the course of the Ukraine crisis, Russia has been aligning itself increasingly towards China. This shift is most obvious in the strategic spheres of military and energy cooperation. Even if the immediate impacts on Germany and the European Union – caused by the dynamics in the...
Kadyrov’s Friends Issue Threats to Critics
Siberian politician claims thinly disguised death threat forced him to apologize to the Chechen strongman leader. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Missing from the ‘State of the Union’
I had expected that there would be little in last week’s State of the Union address about foreign policy as it is not an Administration strength, but, to my surprise, President Barack Obama gave it about eight minutes, a little over 1000 words. Governor Nikki Haley was, however, more detached from the issue in her rebuttal speech, stating...
[Translate to English:] Russlands Wende nach China
[Translate to English:] Seitdem sich die Beziehungen zum Westen im Zuge der Krise um die Ukraine massiv verschlechtert haben, orientiert sich Russland verstärkt Richtung China. Diese Annäherung ist vor allem in den strategischen Bereichen Militär- und Energiekooperation zu beobachten. Auch wenn die unmittelbaren Auswirkungen auf Deutschland und...
Brussels Urges Faster Pace of Ukrainian Reforms
Group of EU countries says democratic, prosperous Ukraine is best defense against ‘Russian aggression.’ …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Russian Duma Committee Rejects Anti-Gay Law
Lawmakers will today consider the draft law calling for fines for public expressions of ‘non-traditional sexual orientation.’ …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 17 January 2016
This report is for media and the general public. Whilst areas at and around Donetsk airport remained largely calm, the SMM continued to note ceasefire violations elsewhere, in particular in areas north-east of Mariupol, and around Horlivka. An SMM patrol came under small-arms fire in Marinka. The Mission experienced multiple freedom-of-movement...
U.S. Probing Kremlin’s ‘Infiltration’ of European Political Parties
Washington said to believe Moscow has been funding anti-establishment parties in a bid to destabilize NATO. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
