Section: Research Organizations & Think Tanks about Ukraine
Russian-backed Separatists Postpone Disputed Elections
By Daniel Pitcairn Key takeaway: Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have postponed unrecognized local elections from October and November 2015 to February 2016. The elections would have violated the “Minsk” peace process which requires the vote to proceed under Ukrainian law. The postponement will mitigate risks of armed conflict...
Ukrainian language classes re-launched
The Ukrainian Institute re-launches its Ukrainian language courses for learners at all levels (beginners, intermediate and advanced). The autumn term will commence on Thursday October 15, 2015 and will run till the week, ending on December 20. Evening classes will be held on Thursdays between 6:30 and 8:30pm. The classes are for non-Ukrainians...
From Turkey to the Baltics, NATO faces up to Russia
A Russian ship passes through the Bosphorus. Reuters/Murad SezerJens Stoltenberg, secretary general of NATO, has said the organisation is “ready and able to defend all allies, including Turkey against any threats”. This followed incursions into Turkish airspace by Russian planes. On the same day, UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon announced...
Russian Propaganda Eases Up On Ukraine
Russian attitudes toward Ukraine — and toward the United States — are gradually improving as state propaganda shifts its focus to Syria. October 8, 2015 By Sergey Aleksashenko In an earlier memo from March, I argued that despite the outward effectiveness of Russian state propaganda, its practical results should not be exaggerated. It’s true...
How Syria is becoming a test bed for high-tech weapons of electronic warfare
Author providedThe relationship between Russia and the West is becoming increasingly dangerous with potential flashpoints developing in both eastern Europe and Syria. After repeated incursions into Turkish airspace by Russian warplanes on bombing raids over Syria, NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg warned Moscow that it stands ready...
Is Vladimir Putin Trying to Teach the West a Lesson in Syria?
SOFIA, Bulgaria — Last week, after Russian planes bombed antigovernment forces near the Syrian town of Homs, a senior American official complained to me: “What Russia is doing in Syria is not an effort to fight the Islamic State; it is not old-fashioned realpolitik. It is not even a cynical attempt to make us forget about Ukraine. Putin simply...
Armament and Sanctions: Hard Power Versus Soft Power
The options on arming Ukraine and on sanctions against Russia, and how they relate to the options on NATO membership must also be given ample consideration in this situation, as well as all of the leftover in-between options experts have to offer. The necessity of choice is certainly important considering the amount of time that has lapsed since...
Russia May Hide Official Mansions From Public View
Plan reportedly drafted by FSB security agency, whose chiefs were recently implicated in massive corruption. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
The Warrior President: Putin’s New Folly
Vladimir Putin’s bombing campaign in Syria is a direct consequence of his failure in Ukraine. It is too early to assess whether Russia’s airstrikes will save the Assad regime, but they have given a new lease of life to the band of commentators whose fulminations pass for political discussion on Russian television. With the winding...
Vladimir of Taurus: What Putin thinks of Europe and the US
The first part of this series explained the personal and domestic political motivations behind his Syria strategy. Here the author explains how Putin and his compatriots view the world, and their scant regard for Anglosphere views on power. [youtube:q13yzl6k6w0] To speak of Russia’s international isolation is an exaggeration, but Putin is...
