RUSSIA & UKRAINE: JRL 2015-#28 table of contents with links :: Sunday 15 February 2015

Johnson’s Russia List
JRL 2015-#28 :: Sunday 15 February 2015
E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net
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1. New York Times: Robert Mackey, Sifting Ukrainian Fact From Ukrainian Fiction.
2. www.rt.com: Russia shrugs off US envoy’s ‘evidence’ of Russian troops in Ukraine.
3. Financial Times: Courtney Weaver, School lessons and shelling forge new identity in east Ukraine.
4. Buzzfeed.com: Max Seddon, The Government Is Losing Territory In Eastern Ukrainians’ Hearts And Minds. Ukraine’s 10-month attempt to reclaim its easternmost provinces has only made locals there hate the central government even more. BuzzFeed News’ Max Seddon reports from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.
5. www.rt.com: Fragile ceasefire in E. Ukraine: Kiev, rebels say ‘in general’ truce observed.
6. Kyiv Post: Quieter, but guns of war still not silent, on first day of cease-fire in Donetsk.
7. Interfax: Shelling of Ukrainian army position stops – General Staff.
8. Reuters: Ukraine rebels disavow ceasefire at encircled town.
9. 5 Kanal TV (Kyiv): Ukrainian president orders cease-fire in restive east-text.
10. www.rt.com: ‘Right Sector could destroy Minsk peace deal before it even starts’ – analyst.
11. Interfax: If demands not met, Ukraine rebels to claim rest of Donetsk Region – leader.
12. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Agreement in Minsk: Will the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine work this time? According to the agreement reached in Minsk on Feb. 12, the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine goes into effect at 00:00 on Feb. 15. However, Russian military experts believe that several factors may impede the full cease of military activity, key among which is the situation in Debaltsevo.
13. AP: RUSSIA ASKS UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON UKRAINE.
14. http://therealnews.com: Will the Ceasefire Hold in Ukraine? (1/2). Kiev-based sociologist Volodymyr Ishchenko says the ceasefire is likely just a pause before another military campaign begins.
15. http://therealnews.com: Will the Ceasefire Hold in Ukraine? (2/2). Kiev-based sociologist Volodymyr Ishchenko discusses the problems that remain with the most recent agreement.
16. The National Interest: Nicolai Petro, Ukraine or the Rebels: Who Won in Minsk?
17. https://ukraineanalysis.wordpress.com: David Marples, Minsk-2.
18. Foreign Affairs: Rajan Menon and Kimberly Marten, Facing a Fragile Ceasefire. If the Deal Doesn’t Hold, Don’t Arm Ukraine.
19. http://gordonhahn.com: Gordon Hahn, Minsk 2.0: The Road to Minsk 3.0 or a Bigger War?
20. CNSNews.com: Former Ambassador: US Should Not Risk ‘Spiraling Confrontation’ With Russia Over Ukraine. (Jack Matlock)
21. The Guardian (UK): Dmitri Trenin, Ukraine points towards the start of a tumultuous new era in world politics. As Vladimir Putin achieves his minimal goal in Minsk, Russia is isolated from Europe and the US but spreading its reach to new alliances.
22. Russia Direct: Russian media: Divided by Minsk, united by Munich. Russian media roundup: This week the Russian media analyzed the results of the Minsk peace talks and the Munich Security Conference, looking for hopeful signs that war can be averted in Europe.
23. Kyiv Post: Poroshenko will impose martial law if cease-fire fails.
24. TASS: Ukraine’s General Staff: no reasons for military action or martial law.
25. New York Times: Even if Cease-Fire Holds, Money Woes Will Test Kiev.
26. TASS: Will Ukraine get promised IMF aid?
27. Forbes.com: Mark Adomanis, Ukraine’s IMF Bailout: Too Little Too Late.
28. Forbes.com: Mark Adomanis, Russian Inflation Is Getting Worse.
29. Kyiv Post: Ukrainian journalists fall prey to hyper-patriotism.
30. Kyiv Post: Trial to ban Communist Party to resume next week.
31. AP: Stephen Hurst, Analysis: NATO expansion at heart of Ukraine crisis.
32. Der Spiegel: Nuclear Specter Returns. ‘Threat of War Is Higher than in the Cold War’
33. www.rt.com: Putin’s trust rating hits 85% historical high.
34. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, Putin’s ‘hands-on management’: How the Russian leader makes it personal. The Kremlin has been able to make its decisions without public scrutiny, despite the disparate Russian elites jockeying for the president’s ear. Even those directly involved have no idea with whom else Putin may be consulting.
35. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, Putin’s pals: Who is helping steer the Kremlin now? Russia’s leader keeps his relationships in the Kremlin’s halls of power private. But military and security types seem to be gaining favor over once-prominent oligarchs and ideologues.
36. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Why Russian children still love the ballet.