Section: News & Summaries

      Less-Stringent Minsk II Terms Paved the Way for Renewed Sanctions
      Mar26

      Less-Stringent Minsk II Terms Paved the Way for Renewed Sanctions

      On March 19, delegates at the European Union Summit in Brussels agreed to extend tough sanctions against Moscow—until year’s end if necessary—to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement the Minsk II ceasefire. Under terms of that deal, signed on February 12, EU sanctions won’t be lifted until Ukraine takes back full control...

      The Bundestag has ratified the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement
      Mar26

      The Bundestag has ratified the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement

      On Thursday, March 26, Germany became the 15th country that has ratified the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement after Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Malta, Estonia, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Ireland. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk wrote on his official Twitter: “The...

      Putin’s War Has Consolidated Ukraine
      Mar26

      Putin’s War Has Consolidated Ukraine

      Viewed historically, the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war is the product of four deeper causes and one trigger. First, the Soviet empire’s collapse in 1991 propelled its successor state, Russia, to seek reimperialization for structural and ideological reasons. Second, the emergence of a “fascistoid” (or almost fully fascist) regime made imperial...

      Ukraine’s Powerful Billionaire Governor Quits After Clash With Kyiv
      Mar26

      Ukraine’s Powerful Billionaire Governor Quits After Clash With Kyiv

      Dnipropetrovsk’s Kolomoyskyi: Patriotic, Corrupt, Threatening—Or All Three? Ukrainian billionaire politician Ihor Kolomoyskyi resigned today as governor of Ukraine’s strategically critical Dnipropetrovsk province after clashing with the central government and parliament over control of two state-owned oil-sector companies. In that...

      Poroshenko dismisses Dnipropetrovsk governor Kolomoyskyi
      Mar25

      Poroshenko dismisses Dnipropetrovsk governor Kolomoyskyi

      On March 25, 2015, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a Decree on dismissal of Ihor Kolomoyskyi from the post of Dnipropetrovsk RSA Head, reports  Press office of President: “President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has fulfilled the request of Ihor Kolomoyskyi for resignation from the post of Dnipropetrovsk RSA Head. Respective...

      Ukraine leader fires billionaire as governor

      Ukraine’s president has fired oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky as governor of a key region in the east. ||| Kiev – Ukraine’s president has fired billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky as governor of a key region in the east, the presidential website said on Wednesday, after armed men that lawmakers said were linked to the oligarch raided a...

      Research Organizations & Think Tanks about Ukraine. Mar 24, 2015
      Mar24

      Research Organizations & Think Tanks about Ukraine. Mar 24, 2015

      The Jamestown Foundation (USA) : Russian Factory Ownership Hurts Ukraine’s President Poroshenko The Jamestown Foundation (USA) : Is Moscow Preparing for a New War Against Georgia? Atlantic Council (USA) : What’s Russia Doing in Africa? Transitions Online (TOL) : Bellwether Balkan Fish at Risk from Dams, Gagauzia Strengthens Ties to Moscow Center...

      What’s Russia Doing in Africa?
      Mar24

      What’s Russia Doing in Africa?

      Atlantic Council’s Pham shares insights on Russia’s acitivities on the continent Under pressure from the West over its actions in Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea, Russia is increasingly turning its attention to Africa, says J. Peter Pham, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. “Recent developments have...

      ChemChina to purchase Pirelli in e7bn deal

      China National Chemical is to buy Pirelli, the fifth-largest tyre maker, in a e7.1 billion (R92.5bn) deal that will place one of the symbols of Italy’s manufacturing industry in Chinese hands. ||| Paola Arosio and Danilo Masoni MilanCHINA National Chemical (ChemChina) is to buy Pirelli, the fifth-largest tyre maker, in a e7.1 billion...

      The Adolescent Country

      In his keynote address to world leaders at the G20 Summit in Brisbane last November, Australia’s Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, chose to complain about the difficulty of getting his domestic budget, including a $7 co-payment for medical patients, through a fractious parliament. World leaders were openly bemused. In this Lowy Institute essay...