Friday, February 28, 2014

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On The Ukraine Crisis -- February 28, 2014



Ukraine: Will Putin Strike? -- Joergen Oerstroem Moeller, National Interest

The world should brace itself for a Putin strike to prevent Ukraine from turning towards the West.

For those in doubt, suffice to recall President Putin’s statement in 2006 that the collapse of the Soviet Union was “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe” of the twentieth century.

Ukraine firmly anchored in the Western system, on its way towards membership of the EU in due course, or even worse, a member of NATO—these are outcomes he will never tolerate. It would be the final straw in dismantling Russian attempts to extend its influence over the ‘near abroad’—those parts of Central and Eastern Europe that escaped domination by Russia in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Putin has several times invoked Russia’s right to influence, labelling the ‘near abroad’ strategically vital for Russia. Giving up, especially under such circumstances as these, would be tantamount to a humiliating defeat more than wiping out his diplomatic triumphs (Syria, for example) last year. And the domestic strongman image Putin has carefully cultivated cannot be reconciled with being outmaneuvered by the West and sidelined by a large part of the Ukrainian population.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On The Ukraine Crisis

Crimean Punishment: Why Russia Won't Invade Ukraine -- Kimberly Marten, Foreign Affairs
Russia, Ukraine and war games on the border-- here's what's really going on -- Peter Brookes, FOX News
Crimea: Where Ukraine could explode -- Frida Ghitis, CNN
Clock ticking on war in Ukraine: Column -- James S. Robbins, USA Today
Ukraine and Russia: fanning the flames -- The Guardian editorial
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s biggest pro-Russian city, a question of who is in charge -- Isabel Gorst, Washington post
At Abandoned Ukrainian Palace, an Anxious Look Toward the Future -- Steven Erlanger, New York Times
Ukraine Must Learn from Errors of the Orange Revolution -- Damon Wilson, Real Clear World
Russia Fosters Ukraine Discord -- Paul Sonne, Wall Street Journal
Analysis: Military Drill is Putin Sending Message Without a Word -- Jim Maceda, NBC
After Yanukovych, Ukraine Faces Prolonged Crisis -- Eben Kaplan, Forbes
What’s Behind Ukraine’s Energy Mess -- The Market Oracle
Ukraine: In Crimea, A Simmering Cauldron – Analysis -- Eurasia Review
For Putin, Ukraine Is Too Important to 'Lose' -- Robert Coalson, VOA/RFE/RL
A tale of two Ukraines: Bitter division highlighted by Kiev's charred but deserted independence square... while ethnic Russians boil with anger in the east as Putin weighs up annexe invasion -- Daily Mail
Putin’s Ukraine gambit -- Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
The Kremlin's Yanukovych options -- Bridget Kendall, BBC
Crimea’s Bloody Past Is a Key to Its Present -- David M. Herszenhorn, New York Times
Crimea a Tinderbox of Divided Loyalties -- Michael Burleigh, The Telegraph
Analysis - Ukraine draws Obama into Putin's long game -- David Rohde, Reuters
The pressure is on Ukraine -- Anne Applebaum, Washington Post
The New Great Game: Why Ukraine Matters to So Many Other Nations -- Peter Coy, Carol Matlack, and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg Businessweek
Next revolutionary step in Ukraine: Reform the police -- Nick Holdsworth, Christian Science Monitor
Ukraine Shackled by Revolution – and Oligarchs -- Andras Jenei, Moscow Times

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