... in New York presuppose an extremely narrow mandate for the peacekeeping mission. Specifically, the peacekeepers should safeguard the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission only, provided that the observers are fulfilling their obligations as set out in the Minsk Agreements. Any other use of the peacekeepers would effective constitute an on-the-ground revision of the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is firmly opposed. Accordingly, the number of Blue Helmets in Eastern Ukraine should be modest — preferably ...
... terrorists, which would mean another win for Kiev. In other words, Ukraine can afford to increase the pressure on the rebels with impunity, backing them further into a corner without fear of a powerful response. Simultaneously Kiev will torpedo the 2015 Minsk Agreements, which it perceives as imposed by foreign powers and the current military situation.
EPA/ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO/
Vostock Photo
Anton Naychuk:
Development Scenarios for the Conflict in
Eastern Ukraine: A View from Kiev
The West can well ...
... expressly said that the aim of Kerry’s visit to Georgia was to support Tbilisi’s “Euro-Atlantic aspirations” while the aim of his visit to Ukraine was to “discuss the programme of reforms” and “implementation of the Minsk agreements.”
Slowing down escalation
REUTERS/Britta Pedersen
Alexander Tabachnik:
Ukraine between West and East
However, the Obama Administration refrains from bringing public pressure on Poroshenko regarding the implementation of the Minsk ...
... between the two sides. In response, the Ukrainian authorities will launch its anti-terrorist operation.
With its informational capabilities and diplomatic contacts, Russia will attempt to convince Europe that it was the Ukrainian side that broke the Minsk agreements. What is more, Moscow will try to further fragment Europe politically by emphasizing cooperation with individual states rather than with the European Union as a whole. Nationalist Eurosceptic parties will play a crucial role in “undermining” ...
The dangers of choosing politics over peopleIn the wake of February’s UN Resolution #2202 (alternately called the Minsk Agreements), there have been numerous threats from both the East and the West of what will come to pass if its contents are not fully and rapidly implemented. While nuclear saber rattling and theoretically indefinite sanctions are certainly nothing ...
