Foreign media digest 20 August 2014

Putin Meeting leaves Ukraine with tough choices.
The Wall Street Journal:
In Kiev, there is pressure not to make a deal. “Mr. Poroshenko faces a parliamentary election in October and a public that wants to see the separatists defeated,” the authors explain. Time, however, could affect public sentiment. War fatigue could creep. And as winter draws closer, Russia’s central role in providing Ukraine’s gas supply will make a thaw in relations more pressing. “Western officials hope that amid the increasingly dire humanitarian situation, both Ukraine and Russia will look for an exit from the crisis,” the authors conclude.
online.wsj.com

Merkel should keep an eye, as Kyiv may try to use her visit in its own need. Despite the whole-hearted support, Merkel will rebuke and warn Poroshenko.
Der Spiegel:
www.spiegel.de

It could be wise to send lethal-weapons assistance to Ukraine. The United States could lead an international reconstruction program for the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com

Putin wants to paralyze Ukraine. Washington should supply Kiev with weapons and other assistance, while also reviving President George W.Bush’s 2008 plan to fast track Ukraine for NATO membership.
Los Angeles Times:
www.latimes.com
One thing Russia underestimated was the extent to which military victory has become a national exigency for Ukraine, Strokan thinks. – It means there may be no deal possible anymore, and that conflict will go on until the bitter end.
The Christian Science Monitor:
www.csmonitor.com

Chief editor of Russia in global affairs magazine Fedir Lukyanov: There will be no Russian invasion. If peaceful talks fail, there will be war until utter ruin of Ukraine.
Der Spiegel:
www.spiegel.de

Ukraine’s army has bad munitions. Missile batteries are shelling with mobile phones’ Google Maps help.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung:
www.sueddeutsche.de

PRO-RUSSIAN MATERIALS

Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago John J.Mearsheimer thinks the U.S. and western countries are those who should be blamed for the crisis in Ukraine, but not Russia.
World Affairs
www.foreignaffairs.com
French psychiatrist Christoph Bago has come back from Sankt-Petersburg and reports that “Russians are doing great without our Camembert”
Le Nouvel Observateur:
leplus.nouvelobs.com
The Wall Street Journal:
Rich Russians in Britain think about sanctions, but keep buying cottages.