Author: JRL Russia List

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Natalya Krainova – February 24, 2014)  Russian officials have warned that the political opposition that has taken power in Ukraine consists of “illegal extremist groups” that do not represent the majority of the Ukrainian people and called on opposition leaders to abide by an earlier reached agreement. In accordance with the European Union-mediated deal reached […]

KYIV. Feb 24 (Interfax) – The Crimean Council of Ministers is closely cooperating with the Ukrainian police, Security Council, and prosecutors in order to take urgent measures to prevent manifestations of extremism and anarchy, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea’s head of government Anatolii Mohyliov said on Sunday. “As the republic’s chief executive, I want to reassure you that the Crimean […]

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) – Moscow on Monday urged the Ukrainians to bring back the situation in their country into “the legal framework” and “crack down on the extremists who are trying to get established in power.” “We earnestly call upon all those who are involved in the crisis in Ukraine to show the maximum sense of responsibility, to take […]

KIEV, February 24 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine said Monday that it has asked Western powers to provide at least $35 billion in urgent financial aid as it struggles to cope with a severe political and economic crisis. Interim finance minister Yuriy Kolobov said in a statement that Kiev has urged the United States and countries in the European Union to […]

Subject:  Ukraine: Pyrotechnics all over Date:     Sat, 22 Feb 2014 From:     Claudiu Secara <claudiu@algora.com> We all are trying to make sense of the events in Ukraine, but let me share some of my thoughts/impressions. 1. One has a feeling that there are a lot of farcical elements to the whole story. Something is not real, just like many of the […]

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Robert Coalson – February 22, 2014) While lawmakers in Kyiv were adopting resolutions and making appointments with breakneck speed, including dismissing President Viktor Yanukovych, a rump group of local officials and lawmakers from the formerly ruling Party of Regions met in the eastern city of Kharkiv for a hastily assembled congress. The officials from all levels […]

LVIV, February 22 (Howard Amos, RIA Novosti) – As battles raged on the streets of Ukraine’s capital in the bloodiest week of a three month-long uprising, the city of Lviv was already installing a new order. Lviv, situated about 500 kilometers west of Kiev, has served as a crucible for the movement that looked Saturday to have chased President Viktor […]

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Igor Rozin, RBTH – February 21, 2014) Russia’s president, prime minister and foreign minister all spoke out against the violence in Kiev on Thursday and now wait for details of an accord intended to restore peace. An agreement between the Ukrainian government and opposition leaders has supposedly been reached, with a signing scheduled […]

(Interfax – February 21, 2014) The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged foreign actors not to push the Ukrainian opposition into the further destabilization of the country. “We believe that the primary need of Ukraine is tranquility, not escalation. And foreign forces, who are actual curators of the incumbent Ukrainian opposition, should not tempt it into further destabilization with the purpose […]

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 21, 2014) Russia has warned the West that it is willing to fight a war over Crimea, a Ukrainian region where 60 percent of the population is ethnically Russian and where Russia’s Black Sea fleet is stationed. “If Ukraine breaks apart, it will trigger a war,” a senior government official told the Financial Times […]

Subject: Ukraine Edging Closer to Civil War? Date:     Thu, 20 Feb 2014 From:  Vlad Signorelli <vlad@brettonwoodsresearch.com> Ukraine Edging Closer to Civil War? Protests in the capital of Ukraine turned deadly Tuesday with at least 25 dead and more than 240 injured. Bloody street fighting is transpiring between government police forces and the Western-leaning opposition. As the political crisis of the […]

[“Kiev crisis reminds Russians of what could have been; Kiev crisis seen as a coup attempt of radicals egged on by the west” – Financial Times – Kathrin Hille – Moscow – February 20, 2014 – ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/58dce628-997e-11e3-b3a2-00144feab7de.html] The Financial Times examines Russian reactions to the crisis in Ukraine, including bias favoring the Ukrainian government: Since the very beginning of the […]

(Stratfor.com – February 19, 2014) As the standoff in Independence Square continues in Kiev, the western part of Ukraine has added a more serious element to the country’s internal struggle. On Wednesday, several administration buildings were taken over by protesters in the west, including in Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhhorod and Ternopil. Meanwhile, demonstrators from an opposition group called People’s Rada in […]

KIEV, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s Interior Minister confirmed Thursday he had signed a decree to issue service firearms to police officers and authorized the use of live ammunition. The statement came in the wake of numerous reports from Kiev of both anti-government protesters and police officers being shot dead in ongoing clashes, in which at least 50 people […]