RUSSIA & UKRAINE: JRL 2014-#106 contents with links :: Tuesday 13 May 2014

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#106 :: 13 May 2014
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1. The Independent (UK): Kim Sengupta, Ukraine crisis: Bloody assault in Mariupol in south-east dashes hopes of avoiding civil war. Caretaker government warns of further lethal action against ‘terrorists’
2. The Sunday Times (UK): Kiev lets loose Men in Black. Shadowy bands of paramilitaries are taking over in eastern Ukraine as the regular army falters. Bojan Pancevski meets the leaders in Mariupol.
3. Moscow Times: Putin’s Reaction to East Ukraine Vote Speaks of Shrewd Strategy, Analysts Say.
4. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Moscow acknowledges Donetsk and Lugansk votes but urges Kiev to begin talks. The referendums on self-rule held in Ukraine’s southeast on Sunday, in which the Donetsk and Lugansk regions voted in favor of sovereignty, were met with caution by the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Kiev has threatened the organizers of the vote with criminal charges. Official recognition of the new republics by Moscow is not on the cards yet, say experts.
5. New York Times: Russia Keeps Its Distance After Ukraine Secession Referendums.
6. Interfax-Ukraine: No reason to stop “antiterrorist operation” in east Ukraine – interior minister.
7. www.rt.com: Moscow in no rush to respond to Donetsk People’s Republic plea for accession.
8. CNN: Kissinger on Russia’s global integration.
9. Business New Europe: Mark Galeotti, COMMENT: After referenda, a window of opportunity opens up in Ukraine.
10. Carnegie Moscow Center: Dmitri Trenin, Ukraine Will Not Die, But It Can Multiply.
11. Democracy Now: After Chaotic Autonomy Votes, Negotiations Could Be Sole Path to Prevent Ukraine’s Disintegration. (with Stephen Cohen)
12. The National Interest: Balazs Jarabik, The Only Way to Save Ukraine: Federalization.
13. ITAR-TASS: Referenda in southeast triggered by Kiev’s inept policy, experts say.
14. Russia Direct: Michael Slobodchikoff, Ukraine: If you thought May 11 was divisive, wait until May 25. Over the weekend, citizens in Donetsk and Luhansk overwhelmingly voted in favor of autonomy and integration with Russia. It’s just the latest step in dividing Ukraine in two.
15. Business New Europe: Graham Stack, Will Europe’s newest state be “Novorossiya”?
16. The Guardian: Simon Jenkins, Ukraine should be left to forge its own course. A key principle of liberal politics is self-determination. Step forward the people of Ukraine – not Washington or London.
17. Russia Beyond the Headlines/Gazeta.ru: Fyodor Lukyanov, In Ukraine, Yanukovich opened Pandora’s Box. When he decided to postpone the signing of an association agreement with the EU, Viktor Yanukovich could not have fathomed the problems he was releasing into the world.
18. Washington Post: Katrina vanden Heuvel, Ukraine needs Russia and the West.
19. Moscow Times: Edward Lozansky, What Ever Happened to U.S. Democracy-Building in Ukraine?
20. RIA Novosti: Secret Cable Reveals Russia Warned US in 2008 Meddling in Ukraine Could Split Country.
21. Levada.ru: Poll shows attitudes hardening in Russia towards West over Ukraine.
22. New York Times editorial: What Mr. Putin Can’t Control.
23. Wall Street Journal editorial: The Battle for Eastern Ukraine. Putin presses his annexation by stages while the West watches.
24. RIA Novosti: German N-TV Phone Poll Shows 89% Back Putin’s Ukraine Policy.
25. Washington Post: Masha Gessen, After carving up Ukraine, where will Putin turn next?
26. Christian Science Monitopr: Fred Weir, Is the Kremlin rallying Russians for a new ‘USSR-lite’?
27. Interfax: NATO fears Russia’s stronger influence in Eurasia.
28. Moskovskiy Komsomofearslets: Lyudmila Aleksandrova: Will holding of referendum help residents of southeast Ukraine? Project ‘Novorossiya’
29. Interfax: Lavrov steers clear of statement he allegedly made on Donetsk People’s Republic.
30. The National Interest: Paul Saunders, Seven Ways a New Cold War with Russia Will Be Different.
31. Interfax: Russia may lower gas prices for Ukraine once debt is paid – ministry.
32. ITAR-TASS: Medvedev: Russia has evidence Ukraine has money to pay gas debt.
33. www.rt.com: EU policy to blame for Ukraine crisis – Ex-Chancellor Schroeder.
34. History News Network: Walter Moss, Whose Advice Should You Trust on Ukraine?
35. Carnegie Moscow Center: Deborah Gordon and Andreas Goldthau, Understanding the Risks of Sanctioning Russian Oil.
36. Moscow Times: Local Promoter Speaks Out Against Boycotts.
37. ITAR-TASS: Russia has no plans to annex Transdniestria, though opposes economic embargo.
38. www.rt.com: Melting of Antarctic ice sheet and 3-meter sea level rise inevitable – study.
39. RIA Novosti: Polls Show Russians Satisfied With Quality of Life.
40. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Winds of change leave Russia’s opposition out in the cold. Two years ago, Russia’s opposition movement was in full swing as a series of street protests across the country drew huge crowds of people dissatisfied with the rule of Vladimir Putin. But amid infighting among opposition factions and a state crackdown on public protests, the group appeared to lose its way.
41. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Budget Figures Show Putin has Been Preparing for War for Four Years, Nemtsov Says.
42. Moscow Times: Vladimir Ryzhkov, Russians Feel That Great Power High – Again.
43. Washington Post: Jackon Diehl, Putin is acting defensively in Ukraine. (views of Pussy Riot)
44. Moscow Times: Medvedev Orders Bank Chiefs to Reveal Personal Assets in Corruption Battle.
45. Wall Street Journal: Russian Economy Minister Says Country Heading for Recession. Minister Says Fear of Sanctions is Hitting Investment.
46. ITAR-TASS: Russia takes seriously fulfilment of WTO commitments – ministry official.
47. ITAR-TASS: Conference on HIV/AIDS problems to open in Moscow.
48. www.rt.com: Russia: Historic 30-yr gas deal with China set to be signed next week.
49. RIA Novosti: ANALYSIS: China-Russia-US Bering Strait Railroad Plan ‘Feasible’