Foreign media digest 22 October 2014

This report is based on the mutual monitoring by NDSC and UCMC

Ukraine’s representation of Ukraine in the western media is close to zero. Ukrainian speakers do not represent the position of Ukraine in any of the current issues – the use of cluster weapons, gas negotiations, elections, reforms.

Among the important topics:

ü Marshall’s plan discussion. An interesting article by A.Aslund

www.ft.com

üMoreover, there are ideas to unite Russian and Western attempts to rebuild Ukraine.

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/why-the-putin-peace-plan-working-11519″ target=”_blank”>nationalinterest.org

ü Carnegie Fund gives assessment to Ukraine’s parliamentary election

carnegieeurope.eu

ü OSCE does not agree with HRW report and is planning to hold its own investigation
news.vice.com

MINSK AGREEMENTS: THE RESULT OF USSIAN AND WESTERN PRESSURE

A good way to manifest this common interest would be to coordinate a comprehensive package of economic support for Ukraine with Russia, so that after the parliamentary elections, the Ukrainian government does not fall prey to economic populism, or worse, collapse and get replaced by the extremist forces lurking in the wings.

The National Interest:

Trade sanctions, the construction of a wall to separate the two peoples, and attempts to isolate Ukraine from the influence of Russian culture, which many of its citizens share, may make some political groups feel better, but they are no substitute for what Ukraine ultimately needs to survive—massive and sustained Russian business investments. That was something that every leader of Ukraine, even Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yushchenko, eventually came to realize. In sticking with the Minsk accords, Poroshenko has shown that he is beginning to realize it as well. Now it is time for the West to catch up.

nationalinterest.org

GAS QUESTION

Russia has raised further conditions for resuming gas supplies to Ukraine, dashing hopes that a deal to safeguard Europe’s energy supply this winter would be agreed on Tuesday. Russia made another demand, asking for evidence to be submitted within five days that international lenders or other organisations were able to guarantee Kiev as good for its money.

The Financial Times:

www.ft.com

Russian and Ukrainian officials couldn’t agree on the deal which would restart Russian deliveries of natural gas.

The New York Times:

“The standoff between Russia and Ukraine is delicate for the European Union, which is reliant on the shipment of gas through Ukraine for about a fifth of its gas supplies,” the edition reminds. The dispute, which focuses on how much and how soon Ukraine should pay Russia for gas it has already consumed, and the terms for future deliveries, has raised concerns in Europe that supplies of energy from Russia that are piped through Ukraine could be interrupted this winter.

www.nytimes.com

MILITARY ВІЙСЬКОВО-ТЕХНІЧНА СПІВПРАЦЯ УКРАЇНИ З РОСІЄЮ, ЕКСПОРТ ПРОДОВОЛЬСТВА

According to Russian experts, Ukraine should be ready for annual loss of $10 billions and increase of unemployment and social instability.

Tagesspiegel:

www.tagesspiegel.de

Russia to ban all fruit and vegetable imports from Ukraine

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com

CORRUPTION IN UKRAINIAN ARMY

The 12th Battalion was established as a business project, and has nothing in common with a combat unit.

The Daily Beast:

www.thedailybeast.com

SIKORSKI STATEMENTS: PUTIN PROPOSED TO DIVIDE UKRAINE

Sikorski: Ukraine has already been divided. The responsibility for the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine lies with those who give guarantees Ukraine and who today take part in these discussions, that Russia, United Kingdom, United States and France. And the best, if on behalf of all of us to work a European diplomacy

Gazeta Wyborcza:

In Europe, today we have the problem that Russian politicians are saying to us hard language of diplomacy and force. Literally on Sunday my recent colleague Sergei Lavrov said in clear text that Moldova would be willing to join NATO and Romania, the Transnistria can choose their own future. We all know what that means.

And we’re still trying to Russia speak the language of postmodern, in which conflict is unthinkable. I’m afraid that this language is incomprehensible to the other side.

wyborcza.pl

If Putin really thought Poland would agree with his proposition to divide Ukraine, it is another evidence Putin has lost the touch with reality. Meanwhile, Sikorski partially distanced himself from the statement allegedly made on his behalf. On his page on the social network Twitter politician wrote that “the interview with Politico has not been authorized, and some of his statements were not properly represented.”

Die Welt:

www.welt.de

TOTAL BOSS DEATH IN MOSCOW

Russia Loses Oil Ally in De Margerie After Moscow Crash. Christophe de Margerie’s last act as chief executive officer of Total SA (FP) left no room for doubt about his feelings toward Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In a Moscow speech hours before the plane crash that took his life two days ago, de Margerie said U.S. and European Union sanctions on the country were “unfair and unproductive,” and that he opposed efforts to render it “isolated from the major global economic and political process.”

Le Monde, Bloomberg, Le Echos, The Wall Street Journal:

abonnes.lemonde.fr

www.bloomberg.com

www.lesechos.fr

online.wsj.com

RUSSIAN SUBMARINA SEARCHES IN BALTIC SEA

Local citizens think this story is connected with the crisis in Ukraine and Russia wanting to control its border areas. One more theory – the so-called “budget submarine” – a tongue-in-cheek Swedish term for a submarine sighting that conveniently coincides with the government setting its new budget, including allocations for defence.

Daily Telegraph, Financial Times:

www.telegraph.co.uk

Moscow denies allegations its submarine entered Swedish waters, but activates its operations of intimidation. Liberation:

www.liberation.fr