RUSSIA & UKRAINE: JRL 2014-#121 contents with links :: Friday 30 May 2014
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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#121 :: 30 May 2014
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1. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Fyodor Lukyanov, Why the next move will be decisive for Ukraine. The election of Petro Poroshenko marks a watershed moment in the Ukrainian crisis. There are now clear opportunities for both Kiev and the self-proclaimed “people’s republics” in the east of the country to pave the way for rebuilding to begin. However, it is clear that any stable future for the country is conditional on the establishment of a rigid framework for ensuring the interests of all parties
2. Wall Street Journal: Ukraine’s Acting Defense Minister Says Government Pressing on in East.
3. www.rt.com: Shells hit hospital as Ukrainian army resumes strike on Slavyansk.
4. Wall Street Journal: East Ukraine Town Digs In for Fight. Pro-Russian Locals Rally to Repel Military Attempt to Retake Town, Blaming Government for Bloodshed.
5. Kyiv Post: Civilian Donbas Battalion forming National Guard unit.
6. Reuters: Quoting Old Testament, new pro-Russia militia group lines up in Ukraine.
7. The Herald (Scotland): Pro-Russian separatists beyond Kremlin control.
8. Reuters: Russia has withdrawn most troops from Ukraine border: U.S. official.
9. ITAR-TASS: Russia obliged to provide humanitarian and political assistance to east Ukraine – experts.
10. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Press Digest: Maidan activists release manifesto; Poroshenko profiled.
11. RFE/RL: What Are Eastern Ukraine’s (Legitimate) Grievances With Kyiv?
12. RFE/RL: Reporter’s Notebook: Separatists In Eastern Ukraine Think Journalists Are Either For Them Or Against Them.
13. Reuters: EU says Ukraine must pay Russia for gas, Moscow must offer fair price.
14. RIA Novosti: PREVIEW: Russia, EU, Ukraine Attempt to Resolve Gas Dispute for Third Time.
15. Moscow Times: Tax Breaks May Not Be Enough to Jumpstart Crimea’s Struggling Economy.
16. Valdai Discussion Club: Konstantin Bondarenko, Poroshenko May Prove an Unpredictable Partner for Europe.
17. The Economist editorial: A chocolate baron wins in Ukraine. Sweet victory. As well as pacifying separatists and dealing with Russia, Petro Poroshenko must remake Ukraine’s politics.
18. The Economist: Ukraine’s presidential poll. A two-tone election. Petro Poroshenko has been elected president. Now he has some dreadful problems.
19. Center for American Progress: Cory Welt, Ukraine’s Road to Normalcy.
20. The New York Review of Books: Tim Judah, Ukraine: Progress Without Peace.
21. Sic Semper Tyrannis: FB Ali, Ukraine, Crimea and clarity.
22. US Department of State Daily Press Briefing excerpt re Ukraine.
23. Financial Times: Putin backs moves to improve Russia’s investment climate.
24. Moscow Times: Survey Sees Less Risk of Future Economic Sanctions Against Russia.
25. www.rt.com: Opposition seeks to ban governors resigning early to force elections.
26. Moscow Times: Russia Targets ‘Traitorous’ Dual Citizenship Holders.
27. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Russian Skepticism about Parties Opening the Way to a Return to One Party Rule, Commentator Says.
28. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Russian Population to Fall by Half in 50 Years Even if Recent Fertility Rise Sustained, Moscow Demographer Says.
29. RIA Novosti: West Curtailing Missile Defense Cooperation With Russia – Foreign Ministry.
30. ITAR-TASS: Russia’s isolation – Obama’s wishful thinking.
31. Moscow Times: For Russia, Eurasian Union is About Politics, Not Economy.
32. Christian Science Monitor: Minus Ukraine, will new Eurasian Union live up to Putin’s dreams?
33. RIA Novosti: OPINION: Eurasian Union’s Economic Integration Stronger than EU’s.
34. www.rt.com: Eurasian Economic Union is wake-up call for US.
35. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Changing attitudes to change lives. Denise Roza has spent the past 20 years working to improve the lives of Russians with disabilities. She spoke with RBTH U.S. editor Elena Bobrova about her background, the changes she has seen and the challenges still.
36. RIA Novosti: Abkhaz Leader Ready for Dialogue with Opposition, Rules Out Ultimatums.
7. www.opendemocracy.net: Islam Tekushev, Maidan comes to Abkhazia. Events in Ukraine have both highlighted and influenced Abkhazia’s political divisions, as yesterday’s protests clearly demonstrate.
38. http://abkhazworld.com: Statement of George Hewitt.
