British The Guardian notes that Maidan movement achieved its main goal – the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. However, in the six months since, little has been changed in the daily work of state apparatus.
The Guardian:
Ukrainians complain on corruption and ineffectiveness of public administration. There is a growing sense in Ukrainian society that not enough has changed since Maidan. On the other hand, the UN says that more than 1,100 people have died since the “anti-terrorist operation” began in the east of the country several months ago. While the Ukrainian army has made significant gains against the armed separatists in recent weeks, it has come at the cost of an increasingly high civilian death toll.
Most controversial is the apparent use of Grad rockets by the Ukrainians. Both the rebels and the pro-Ukrainian forces have Grads, which fire up to 40 missiles in quick succession and are notoriously inaccurate. Kiev denies that it has ever used heavy artillery on residential areas, and has complained about reports by international rights organisations suggesting otherwise. As the war has ground on, public opinion in western and central Ukraine has radicalised. Guardian describes Oleg Lyashko as “an eccentric MP whose speciality is making raids into the east with a band of black-clad paramilitaries”. “When there is fear in society, demagogues flourish, and Lyashko’s military populism is very popular at the moment,” Guardian cites political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. Another threat, according to a British correspondent, is the fact that despite the growing radicalization of public sentiment rating populist politicians. “When a society dominated by fear, demagogues thrive and militaristic populism Lyashko is very popular now,” – gives the word journalist known Kiev political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko of the growth rate of one of the most controversial politicians Ukrainian Oleg Lyashko.
www.theguardian.com
Echoes of Russian propaganda in the western media – “Russia will change the balance and push the world into recession” writes
Newsweek:
A source tells the newspaper that Russia has entered a dialogue with German officials – including Angela Merkel – and that can lay the foundation for negotiations. ““We hope perhaps within 90 days,” said a European official with knowledge of the negotiations. Should that not happen, Europe’s markets—and the world’s—could feel a very chill wind coming from the East.” – so ends the article.
www.newsweek.com
A former editor and publisher of Die Zeit Theo Sommer believes that the European Union has responded correctly to Malaysian aircraft shot down in the skies over Eastern Ukraine.
Die Zeit:
“Our air force would destroy the separatist positions, and use 3-4 tactical groups (supported by NATO) to safeguard the site of the accident. That would not be amiss. Such limited in time and targeted operation could be held under the supervision of Russian military “- the author offers. “As for economic sanctions, they for a range of reasons are excessive – he continues. – The consequences for the EU would be” devastating”.
www.zeit.de
NATO said that it fears direct Russian intervention in Ukraine under the guise of “humanitarian mission.”
Deutsche Welle:
According to the Alliance, about 20 thousand Russian soldiers are now amassed on the border with Ukraine. “We do not anticipate that this is Russia’s plan, but we can see what Russia is doing and there is a cause for concern,” – said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu. She added that the new Russian military build-up leads to a stronger escalation and undermines efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Earlier the same day, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he received new information regarding the likelihood of direct invasion of Russian troops to Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski made similar statements in the interview to TVN24 channel.
www.dw.de
The invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine “would be disastrous for all states involved”.
The Guardian:
The crossing of Russian troops into Ukraine” would be a disaster for all states involved”. A long-term intervention would worsen Russia already poor relations with the West. The territory of Ukraine would be split again. Eastern Europeans would be terrified to death. “Western Europe and America would be ashamed they had failed to stop it, and more intransigent as a result” – said in the article.
www.theguardian.com
Japan introduces new sanctions against Russia, but leaves door open for negotiations.
The New York Times:
www.nytimes.com
Putin’s takeover was an act in defense of Russia’s national interest, rather than one of sheer, blind aggression.
Foreign Policy:
According to Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, “Putin’s takeover of Crimea has much more in common with Tsar Nicholas’s concerns in the Black Sea in 1914 than Leonid Brezhnev’s in Czechoslovakia in 1968. Putin’s takeover was an act in defense of Russia’s national interest, fully consistent with the country’s geopolitical DNA, rather than one of sheer, blind aggression”.
www.foreignpolicy.com
