... relationship may be more familiar for Moscow, but Russia is not the U.S.S.R., and the consequences will prove far less manageable. There will be no “new normal" with the U.S., because Russia will not be forgiven for its transgressions in Ukraine, while as a power, it is still far too weak to make America want to compromise.
That is, the U.S. will not agree to cease democratization (arguably it can't help itself) or settle for a new detente in Europe. Moscow will have to find a way to turn German leadership to its favor, thereby blunting any future U.S. policy of containment and more active pressure. Russia will seek to ameliorate Germany, and repair that relationship. The way back into German ...
... America, and the state of their relationship is the lack of measured and reasoned commentary. Make no mistake, though, the problems between Russia and America are serious and affect a whole host of major issues around the world from wars in Syria and Ukraine to global energy distribution, access, and prices, to space exploration and militarization, just to name a few.
Perhaps this is understandable, given the nature of the history of the most serious, dangerous rivalry the world has ever seen. Sparta ...
... granted, as continued fighting ahead of the ceasefire’s formal entry into force suggests.
If the truce sticks, it will be the first negotiated arrangement in a newly divided Europe, leaving Russia almost alone on the east, with much of the rest of Europe supporting Ukraine. This split can grow much worse if the conflict in Donbass continues. But even if it stops, reconciliation is not on the cards. This means that in the foreseeable future there will be no common security system on the continent of Europe, no commonly ...
... riot police on November 30. See: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304744304579245604043272372
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25905031
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/
[v] A Ukrainian soldier was shot and killed hours after Vladimir Putin formally announced the annexation of Crimea. See: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/putin-confirms-annexation-crimea-ukrainian-soldier-casualty
[vi] http://online....
... the residential housing sector (which consumes approximately 25 percent of the country’s electricity and 40 percent of its heat energy resources) and to increase energy efficiency standards for future construction.[xviii]
A Long Road Ahead
Ukraine’s European aspirations will entail significant upfront political and economic costs. Domestically, the average citizen will have to be convinced and constantly reassured that the short-term challenges will be worth the long-term benefits. Internationally,...
... less than 5 percent in the presidential elections on May 25.
LESSON SEVEN: Institutions of civil society need to be activated in times of crisis
IVANOV: Seventh, the crisis in Ukraine has showed the weakness of civil society – and not only in Ukraine, but in Russia, Europe and across the Atlantic.
Institutions of civil society – NGOs, professional societies, independent analysis centers – were not actively involved in the attempts to resolve the crisis; the major players were civil servants and diplomats....