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Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2015 22:24:57 GMT
VLADIMIR PUTIN’S latest victory in Ukraine is turning into a rout. Having already induced Western leaders to endorse a peace plan that virtually guarantees continued Russian control over parts of two provinces, the Russian ruler ordered a large Ukrainian force holding Debaltseve, a key crossroads in the region, to surrender. His forces, including regular Russian army troops, then assaulted the city in brazen violation of a cease-fire. On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Debaltseve under fire, suffering a devastating defeat that will further destabilize the shaky Kiev government of Petro Poroshenko. Mr. Putin was so pleased that he indulged in some taunting of the Ukrainians. “Of course, it’s always bad to lose,” he said at a news conference Tuesday. “It’s always a hardship when you lose to yesterday’s miners or yesterday’s tractor drivers.” That was another lie, of course — the forces who seized Debaltseve were not former Ukrainian workers but Russian regulars; one Western reporter encountered soldiers who had been dispatched from Siberia. What about Western leaders, who just last week solemnly declared they would hold Russia accountable if the new deal were violated? All agreed there had been, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman put it, “a massive violation” of the cease-fire agreement. But there was little visible movement toward imposing meaningful consequences. Instead, officials in Brussels echoed a White House statement that said “the costs to Russia will rise” if it “continues to violate” the agreement. That suggested only that additional aggression by Mr. Putin would get a response, maybe. Given the West’s weakness, more aggression seems likely. But, for now, Mr. Putin has reason to preen. The takeover of Debaltseve will go a long way to consolidate the breakaway puppet state he is building in eastern Ukraine. Under the terms of the deal accepted by the West, Moscow need not allow Ukraine to control its own border with Russia unless and until it agrees to a delegation of power to the Russian entity that satisfies Mr. Putin.
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Post by Admin on Feb 22, 2015 22:23:06 GMT
A bomb blast at a rally in eastern Ukraine has killed two people on the first anniversary of the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych, an event that helped trigger Russia's annexation of Crimea and a separatist uprising. Ukraine's Interior Ministry described the blast at a pro-Kiev rally in Kharkiv as an act of terrorism and said it had been caused by a bomb. It said a police officer was among the dead and that about a dozen other people were wounded. The Associated Press quotes a spokesman for the national security service as saying that four suspects were arrested in connection with the bombing. The BBC says the rally in Kharkhiv was one of several being held to mark to mark the ouster of Moscow-leaning Yanukovych. The AP writes: "The violence in Kharkiv comes as Ukraine continues to be riven by tension and bloodshed stemming from Yanukovych's fall. A peace plan envisioning a cease-fire and pullback of heavy weapons was signed Feb. 12."
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Post by Admin on Feb 23, 2015 22:17:29 GMT
As fighting continues in eastern Ukraine and a shaky cease-fire deal reached in Minsk seems increasingly fragile, a Russian store has released a "separatist" swimwear collection in its own bid to bring peace to the region. The Voyenpro online store, which specializes in military- and patriotic-themed goods, has named its latest collection "World of Novorossia," in reference to a Tsarist-era region that formerly comprised all of modern southern Ukraine and is now used by Moscow to refer to rebel-held territory. Customers can buy anything from bikinis to bags featuring the separatist flag or the red, blue and black colors of the unofficial Novorossia confederation of Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics (LDR and DPR). "[Our] Novorossia and DPR swimsuits and bikinis will draw attention to girls on the beaches of Crimea, and other Russian and foreign resorts," the designers say on their website.The store owners do not cater exclusively to women — pacifiers and teddy bears for children and men's watches and sweaters are also in stock. Some goods also come in Ukraine's blue-and-yellow colors, including a packet of condoms and a roll of toilet paper. "Give Novorossia and DPR presents to your loved ones and think about peace!" the designers said on their website, adding that the collection was intended to promote an end to fighting and a return to peaceful life in eastern Ukraine. But despite the large collection of products offered on the site, the majority of goods are not yet ready to be shipped. Currently, customers can only buy a Novorossia war medal for 899 rubles ($14). Voyenpro is not the first company to spot a money-making opportunity in the midst of the Ukraine crisis. It was announced last week that a Moscow-based travel operator was planning to offer guided tours of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with a four-day tour costing about $2,000-$3,000. For that price, holidaymakers will be provided with an armored vehicle that could "comfortably" accommodate five to seven people, a local driver and guide, and bodyguards from an unspecified private security firm, Izvestia reported.
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Post by Admin on Feb 24, 2015 22:31:08 GMT
A war with Ukraine would be "apocalyptic" but will probably never happen, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "I believe such (an) apocalyptic scenario is unlikely, and hope that it will never get to that point," he told Russian media Monday. Putin said he's confident the crisis will stabilize if the Minsk Agreement is implemented. The accord, between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, includes a ceasefire between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists and an agreement for both sides to pull back heavy weapons. Despite frequent violations of the ceasefire, Putin said there's no need for immediate action beyond the Minsk Agreement, such as more international peace talks or the formal recognition of rebel separatist groups like the People's Republic of Donetsk and the People's Republic of Lugansk. "I really hope (the Minsk Agreement) is implemented, and if it is -- it is the right way to normalization of situation in that Ukrainian region," Putin said. But the chaos on the ground in eastern Ukraine suggests the truce is crumbling. In the past week, shelling has intensified in the city of Donetsk. And on Friday, Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council reported 300 violations of the ceasefire, which was less than a week old. Ukraine has said its forces won't back down until attacks from the rebels stop. Pro-Russian separatists have also accused Ukraine of instigating violence. In his interview, Putin also said there's no chance Crimea -- which was annexed by Russia last year -- will go back in Ukraine. "Regarding the return of any territories, such things are of revengeful nature, and it is not about return of some territories somewhere," Putin said "Crimea will remain Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Greek, and German -- it will be a home to all these nations. With regard to its nationality, Crimean people made their choice, which we must respect."
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Post by Admin on Mar 3, 2015 22:26:10 GMT
A top secret Kremlin briefing purportedly intended for the eyes of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of Ukraine’s revolution which discusses how to co-opt regions of the country’s east into the Russian Federation has been leaked, according to Russian media. The document, which forsees the break-up of Ukraine, with eastern regions joining Russia “in some form or another”, was printed in daily newspaper Novaya Gazeta today. It consists of a seven-point policy brief, advising the Kremlin on how Russia should react to the likely collapse of the regime of then-president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. The document advises Putin on how to “reorient” regions of Ukraine to Russian influence. Novaya Gazeta estimates that the memo dates back to the eve of Ukraine’s Euromaidan uprising between February 4 and 12, 2014 and were intended to be submitted to the presidential administration. However Novaya Gazeta could not confirm that Putin had ever seen the papers nor could Newsweek verify their authenticity independently . Point three of the document laments that the Ukrainian constitution doesn’t contain mechanisms by which the country’s eastern territories and Crimea might decide to secede and join the Russian Federation. The author therefore suggests that it is then right for Russia to “play on the aspirations” of eastern Ukrainian regions with pro-Russian sentiments, to allow them "ascension" to Russia "in one form or another.” Thus, the author of the document highlights the need for Russia to first “sign contracts for cross-border cooperation [ed with these regions], after which [they can] establish direct government-agreed relations with these Ukrainian territories where there are durable pro-Russian electoral sympathies." In Novaya Gazeta’s notes on the document, the paper highlights how pragmatic the document is, in juxtaposition with the image of the Ukrainian conflict which the Kremlin have presented to the world “There is no ‘spiritual-historical’ justification for Russian interference in Ukraine [in the document],” Andrey Lipsky, Novaya Gazeta’s political editor writes. “There are no arguments about ‘Novorossiya’ [New Russia] or the protection of Russian-speakers, or the ‘Russian world’ or the resurgent ‘Russian Spring’. Only geopolitics and cold expediency.” Instead, the reason for Russian interference in regions of Ukraine given by the author is retaining control over Ukraine’s gas pipelines and strengthening Russia’s role in Eastern and Central Europe.
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