Section: Project Syndicate (Czech Republic)
The Last Hurdle for Ukraine’s Recovery
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Ukraine’s Imperiled Press Freedom
The unsolved year-old murder of a prominent journalist in Ukraine has called into question the country’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. If Ukraine’s leaders are serious about deeper EU integration, they must uphold fundamental European principles, including the protection of journalists and the defense of press freedom....
The Case for an EU-Ukraine Customs Union
The EU’s most powerful lever in promoting stable, viable, and successful democracies has always been its use of conditionality, linking reforms to clear and tangible benefits. Europe must continue to place new milestones along the road to show that it is committed to Ukraine’s success and serious about rewarding reforms. …read...
A Baltic Test for European Arms Control
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in early 2014, its political and military relations with the West have deteriorated sharply. To head off the risk of an arms race or military confrontation, both sides must urgently agree to reciprocal measures to limit military capabilities and engage in arms control, beginning in the Baltics....
Russia’s Bad Equilibrium
The fear of economic destabilization that has permeated Russia since its 2014 invasion of Ukraine, which was met with crippling Western sanctions, has all but evaporated. For many Russians, the mix of nationalist euphoria, creature comforts, and domestic repression seems to be a potent elixir. …read more Source: Project Syndicate (Czech...
The US Election and the Ukraine Connection
It is not difficult to guess why Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Donald Trump, rather than Hillary Clinton, in the White House. But why did Putin go from hoping for a particular outcome to launching wide-ranging efforts – and incurring great risks – to help bring it about? …read more Source: Project Syndicate (Czech...
The Return of Containment
Throughout the Cold War, George Kennan’s policy of containment shaped the West’s approach to the Soviet Union. At a time when Russia is bombing Aleppo, occupying parts of Ukraine, and meddling in Western politics, a new containment doctrine is needed. …read more Source: Project Syndicate (Czech...
Safeguarding Ukraine’s Progress
Ukraine’s immediate economic crisis has been resolved, but its economy remains fragile and needs international support from bodies such as the IMF, which approved a new disbursement for the country last month. Still, if Ukraine’s new government becomes complacent, the country’s recent gains could be lost. …read more...
The Putin Question
As war fever returns in Ukraine, the question of why Russian President Vladimir Putin went from would-be modernizer to aggressive autocrat is being revived. Whatever the reason – fear for his safety, a sense of historical grievance, or both – Putin’s inability to reform Russia’s economy seems certain to be his downfall. …read...
Where Europe Still Lives
When history comes to a turning point, it’s useful to maintain a broad perspective on events as they unfold. Watching the passage of the UK’s Brexit referendum from Lviv, in Western Ukraine, drives the point home. …read more Source: Project Syndicate (Czech...
