Foreign media digest 1th December 2014

INTERVIEW WITH POROSHENKO

 

Mainly German media (Deutsche Welle, Tagesschau, Handelsblatt, Stern, Züdeutsche Zeitung) published Poroshenko’s interview with German broadcaster ARD. Apart from German media, only Bloomberg (USA) and Prague Post (Czech Republic) published this interview. It worth mentioning that journalist Ulrich Adrian gave ironic and negative comments about the interview in Tagesschau newspaper.

Poroshenko: ‘Ukrainians died for the right to be Europeans’ In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, President Poroshenko said it wouldn’t take any longer than two or three weeks for peace to return at Donbas after Russian troops withdrawal. He said NATO  remained the system capable of protecting its members.

Deutsche Welle:

http://www.dw.de/poroshenko-ukrainians-died-for-the-right-to-be-europeans/a-18102786

In the interview, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko sometimes seemed very helpless, sometimes – very decisive. Overall, he painted a picture of his people and the gratitude for Western help. 

Tagesschau: 

http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/poroschenko-interview-analyse-101.html

Poroshenko: ‘Ukrainians died for the right to be Europeans’President Poroshenko has reiterated Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.Not everyone in Germany supports this idea. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he is against the idea of Ukraine joiningNATO

Handelsblatt:

http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/poroschenko-in-der-ard-gestorben-fuer-das-recht-europaeer-zu-sein/11055828.html

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in response to Poroshenkos statements about holding a referendum on joiningNATO said the Alliance will respect Ukraine’s choice.

Stern:

http://www.stern.de/politik/ausland/ukraine-nato-respektiert-proroschenkos-beitrittswunsch-2156568.html

Poroshenko said NATO  remained the system capable of protecting its members’ sovereignty. He wants his country to follow the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. Not everyone in Germany supports this idea. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he isagainst the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO will respect Ukraine’s choice.

 Südeutsche Zeitung:

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/krieg-in-der-ukraine-steinmeier-befuerchtet-dauerkrise-mit-russland-1.2246004

Petro Poroshenko emphasized that country will continue orientation toward EU and NATO

Prague Post:

http://www.praguepost.com/eu-news/42971-poroshenko-ukraine-will-reject-any-pressure-from-outside

Poroshenko said Ukraine will do everything possible, so that the economy, the military and investment in defense correspond to criteria for nations seeking to join NATO. However, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he didn’t see Ukraine “on the way to NATO.” 

 Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-30/poroshenko-pledges-european-path-for-ukraine-as-russia-sends-aid.html

 

UKRAINE IS IN THE THROES OF A FINANCIAL COLLAPSE

 

Ukraine is in the throes of a financial crisis that urgently demands a response from western governments. 

Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/91620f78-76f5-11e4-944f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3KaNBcYKi

 

Russian banker, head of the Russian “Vneshekonom Bank predicts banking collapse in Ukraine.

Tagesspiegel:

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/kritik-an-sanktionen-des-westens-russlands-staatsbanker-warnt-vor-banken-kollaps-in-der-ukraine/11052488.html

 

GOVERNMENT FORMATION: TENSIONS BETWEEN POROSHENKO AND YATSENYUK

 

Control over ministerial posts is also paramount for Ukraine’s oligarchs, who continue to exert pernicious influence. 

The Economist:

Five pro-Western parties have signed a coalition agreement. Mr Poroshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the prime minister, promise that the government will follow soon. But competition is hampering negotiations. The voters unexpectedly put Mr Yatsenyuk’s People’s Front first in the election. That was a blow to Mr.Poroshenko, and leaves Ukraine with two power centres.

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21635029-tensions-between-president-and-prime-minister-may-further-derail-ukraine-tragedy-and-farce

 

                LAW SUITS AGAINTS UKRAINEMH17 CATASTROPHE

 

The mother of a German woman killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was downed over eastern Ukraine in July is suing the Ukrainian authorities at the European Court of Human Rights for failing to close their airspace.

Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/mother-of-mh17-crash-victim-suing-ukraine-paper-reports-1.2020669

 

WEST IS PREPARING FOR A WIDER CONFRONTATION WITH RUSSIA

 

Whatever mysterious Putin’s reasons may seem, it is obvious Moscow is preparing for a wider confrontation with the West.

Straits Times:

http://www.straitstimes.com/ukraine-crisis

 

Vladimir Putin has this year spread chaos along the eastern fringe of Europe.

The Times:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/article4283395.ece

 

Europe is witnessing a war that is producing casualties for the Russian army on a scale not seen since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It is time to recognise it as such. 

Financial Times:

http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/11/27/guest-post-in-ukraine-it-is-time-to-call-a-war-a-war/

 

 

REFUGEES FROM THE ATO ZONE

 

Ukraine dissolves as exiles flee.

The Globe and Mail:

1.052.674 Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes as of November 28. Mark Mackinnon gives this number at the beginning of his article for the Canadian The Globe and Mail edition. Eight decades after tens of thousands of countrymen had been forcibly deported to during the Stalin era. Ukraine is once more seized by a tumult largely made in Moscow, as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin has sought to break the country into pieces in response to a pro-Western revolution in Kiev. Once again, significant parts of the population are being scattered to distant lands.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/we-have-no-homeland-ukraine-dissolves-as-exiles-flee/article21832829/