Posted by seumasach on March 13, 2014
M.K.Bhadrakumar
13th March, 2014
When a Russia scholar of great repute, Stephen Cohen of New York University, says that the United States is two steps from the Cuban Missile Crisis and three steps from a war with Russia for the first time, things appear grim. Cohen insists, “We need to get a negotiation going on…” (Excerpts)
Posted in Ukraine War, Uncategorized | Tagged: Obama's realist turn, Russian diplomacy, US-Russia strategic partnership, Us-Russian convergence | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on March 2, 2014
Cailean Bochanan
2nd March, 2014
What exactly the EU leadership thought they were doing in Ukraine is a puzzle for the historians to grapple with. Even though Manlio Dinucci has pointed to networks involving the likes of Barroso centered round a leading Ukrainian oligarch as likely suspects in the Western backed attempt to destabilize Ukraine, the question remains why would they activate such a programme at time when its likelihood of success was minimal. Were they not aware of a growing interdependence of US and Russian foreign policy evident in the resolution of the outstanding issues of the Middle East from Syria and Iran to the Palestinian question itself? Perhaps they were and wanted to roll history back fearing that a final end to the cold war would also see an end to their own political usefulness.
Posted in New Cold War, Ukraine War | Tagged: Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on March 1, 2014
Russia’s Council member: Referendum in Crimea won’t lead to its secession from Ukraine
1st March, 2014
A referendum on Crimea’s status will not mean the peninsula’s secession from Ukraine, says Igor Morozov, a member of the Russian Federation Council international affairs committee and head of a working group.
Posted in Ukraine War, Uncategorized | Tagged: crimea, Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 28, 2014
28th February, 2014
Moscow has urged NATO to refrain from provocative statements on Ukraine and respect its non-bloc status after a chorus of Western politicians said Russia should be “transparent” about its military drills and avoid any steps that could be “misunderstood.”
Posted in New Cold War, Ukraine War | Tagged: Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 24, 2014
This is the big topic for Western journos: What will the Russians do? Here is the answer: they are taking the piss!
24th February, 2014
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian economic development minister Alexei Ulyukaev said on Monday the next $2 billion bailout installment for Ukraine is “ready to go” and he was waiting for word on who the Ukrainian partner will be.
Posted in Ukraine War, Uncategorized | Tagged: Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 24, 2014
The Maidan gunmen will be watering at the mouth at the prospect of $35 billion dollars but of course nothing will be forthcoming. For once the ratings agencies have got it right:
On Friday, ratings agency Standard & Poor downgraded Ukraine’s credit status to two levels above default. “We now believe it is likely Ukraine will default in the absence of significantly favorable changes in circumstances, which we do not anticipate,” said the agency.
24th February, 2014
Ukraine made an urgent call on Monday for $35 billion in foreign assistance over the next two years, following the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych on Saturday.
Posted in Battle for Europe, Ukraine War | Tagged: eurasian project, Europe v.Eurasia, Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 24, 2014
“Russia most likely will adopt the same stance towards pro-European Union politicians that the Egyptian military and its Saudi backers took toward Egypt’s the Muslim Brotherhood: let the opposition take the blame for economic and social chaos, and then move in when the country is on its knees.”
It will now become obvious that all the stuff about Ukraine joining EU was nothing but a rouse. It succeeded in drawing protesters onto streets with EU flags but even if they can sideline the militants and restore some kind of order they will not be able to bail out Ukraine given they can barely bailout Greece, Spain etc. Any stable government in Ukraine will turn to Russia for aid by default. I believe this intervention aimed at a civil war as the Western media never ceased to suggest. Yanukovitch’s ceding of power could then have been the masterstroke. The hapless Ashton now heads to Ukraine in a state of blind panic.
Spengler
24th February, 2014
Western governments are jubilant over the fall of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, a Russian ally. They may be underestimating Vladimir Putin: Russia has the option to hasten Ukraine’s slide into chaos and wait until the hapless European Union acquiesces to – if not begs for – Russian intervention.
Posted in Battle for Europe, Ukraine War | Tagged: Eurasian Economic Community, eurasian project, Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 23, 2014
Cailean Bochanan
23rd February, 2014
William Hague has decreed by twitter (for it is thus that the destiny of nations is settled) that he and his opposite number Steinmeier have agreed to support “a new government” in Ukraine. Which new government would that be?: not the one Steinmeier signed an agreement with on Friday but, implicitly, the armed insurrectionists who now hold power in Kiev. We’re used to Anglo-American contempt for international law but the Germans are meant to be sticklers for the rules. They haven’t done anything like this since allowing Vladimir Lenin to return to Moscow through Germany with, allegedly, a wad of cash on his person. Supporting a NATO-Nazi coup d’etat shows the Germans not to be the politically correct old fuddy-duddies they appear to be. And it won’t just be politically incorrect, it will be politically disastrous. Who set this trap for Europe’s soon to be defunct leadership? Putin and Obama are looking relaxed about it: is this the latest fruit of their “reset” in a week that Obama also effected a regime change lite in Saudi Arabia with the removal of Assad’s arch-enemy Prince Bandar Bush.
Posted in Battle for Europe | Tagged: EU-Ukraine free trade agreement, Eurasian free trade area, Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | 1 Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 17, 2014
Umberto Pascali
8th February, 2014
What is it that really “scared the hell” out of the Anglo-Americans?
Could Ukraine become an area of cooperation between Russia and Europe? Could European countries break free?
Concerning Ukraine, it now appears that the fury shown by the Anglo-Americans (that seems really too excessive and reckless even considering recent standards) is due not simply to the danger of losing Ukraine, but to the danger of losing Europe.
Posted in Battle for Europe | Tagged: EU-Ukraine free trade agreement, Russian diplomacy, ukraine EU NATO | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on February 13, 2014
,posing in a presidential look ahead of announcing his bid
12th February, 2014
CAIRO – Egypt’s military chief headed to Russia Wednesday on his first trip abroad since ousting the country’s Islamist president, part of a shift to reduce reliance on the United States at a time of frictions between the longtime allies.
Posted in Multipolar world | Tagged: Egyptian revolution, Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by seumasach on January 27, 2014
Thierry Meyssan
27th January, 2013
The question of the Syrian opposition’s representation at the Geneva 2 Conference may seem incongruous now that the inaugural meeting in Montreux is already behind us. On the contrary, it remains the central issue. The National Coalition, who spoke before the cameras, has been abandoned by almost all its components and has lost its antennas in Syria. The sole purpose of its presence at the public session was to satisfy Saudi Arabia. It should now quickly give up its seat to other players.
Posted in Global peace process, Syria | Tagged: Obama's realist turn, Russian diplomacy | Leave a Comment »
In These New Times 