Section: Research Organizations & Think Tanks about Ukraine
How cryptocurrencies could boost the BRICS
Talking about the rise and rise of Bitcoin in China to the WEF, Eric Mu a local entrepreneur and Bitcoin miner listed the factors contributing to its popularity there: “…a large internet-savvy population, cheap and abundant hydropower, mature electrical manufacturing, capital control and a depreciating currency.” In fact, Mu could have been...
In Sweden, an Ethical Dilemma of Nuclear Proportions
By Allison Fedirka It’s not every day that a country finds itself in a position where one decision can shape the security framework of an entire region. At the moment, Sweden is in just such a position: It must decide whether to sign a new U.N. nuclear weapons ban. On its face it sounds fairly harmless – Sweden doesn’t have its own...
Next steps in the debate on the future of Europe
Written by Aidan Christie, A clearer view of the European Commission’s vision of the future of Europe should be one outcome of the 2017 State of the Union speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker. Set to take place in the European Parliament’s plenary session of 13 September, this year’s annual set-piece is to be a key moment in...
Watch List: Sept. 6, 2017
The items listed below represent potential emerging issues that our analysts are tracking. These can be long term or short term, but will be updated daily. If an item on our Watch List becomes critical, we will email you a full analysis explaining its significance. Each Saturday, we will follow up our daily Watch List for each week with our...
Fears for the life of young Ukrainian abducted by Donbas militants
There is still no information about the whereabouts of 22-year-old Mykola Petukhov who was seized by armed militants of the so-called ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ in the early morning of August 31. The abduction is of immense concern since Mykola’s mother reports that a young man, identified only as Oleksiy, was seized just a...
Zapad 2017 – survey
We asked Joerg Forbrig, Janusz Bugajski and Jaroslav Naď three questions concerning Zapad 2017 Why are Zapad exercises excepted with so much anxiety among NATO allies? What is NATO’s readiness for the scenarios trained during these exercises? Are Russians going to maintain the military presence in Belarus after Zapad exercises are...
Russia under Putin: Small child solemnly swears to prosecute her mother if required
At a ceremony in St Petersburg on September 1 marking the beginning of the academic year for future ‘investigators’, a little girl solemnly promised Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee that she would shop her mother if that were required by her work …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Kleptocracy Daily: September 1, 2017
A Florida lobbying firm has been hired by a Turkish government-controlled bank implicated in a major Iranian money laundering scheme by the U.S. Justice Department. (Daily Caller) Gerhard Schröder is pressing on with plans to join the board of Rosneft, despite mounting criticism. (AP) China is rolling back Western global influence through a...
The World Outside of North Korea
By Jacob L. Shapiro North Korea commands the world’s attention, but its nuclear test shouldn’t overshadow the important developments that happened earlier this week in other parts of the world. While North Korea and the U.S. were lobbing threats at one another, China’s president was purging generals in the People’s...
American Jackboot Diplomacy
The latest extraordinary roughshod violation of Russian diplomatic rights by the American authorities shows that the US doesn’t want to restore normal bilateral relations. Indeed, it has now resorted publicly to jackboot diplomacy.The rapid ordering of Russia to vacate three of its diplomatic properties – in a matter of hours – amid...