Foreign media digest 6-7 September 2014

THE REACTION ON THE CEASEFIRE SIGNED IN MINSK

The five-month-old war in Ukraine was coming to an end with a Russian victory. But it is also an opportunity to start again in Ukraine. Guardian:
“A glimmer of hope” British Guardian estimates the agreement on the ceasefire reached in Minsk between Ukrainian forces and separatists. The newspaper said the main compromise is that Moscow refused to take the full control over Donetsk and Luhansk regions. A year ago Moscow hoped to keep Ukraine wholly within its sphere while Europe and the United States aspired to bring the country wholly into the western camp. If both sides can grasp that neither vision is useful or possible, then we will be able to register some progress painfully made,” Guardian sums up.
www.theguardian.com

The ceasefire agreement represents a triumph for Russian president Vladimir Putin. Daily Telegraph:
If the deal holds, pro-Russian gunmen will be left in control of Donetsk and Luhansk, along with the territory in between. Leaving them in rebel hands would be a bitter pill for Poroshenko to swallowIf so, Putin will have succeeded in freezing the conflict on terms favourable to Russia. “If he could avoid approaching EU sanction, he will gain an overwhelming victory”, – Daily Telegraph sums up.
www.leaderpost.com

The sad reality is that Vladimir Putin is winning in Ukraine.
The Economist:
The other aim is to put pressure on Mr Putin. The propaganda pumped out by Kremlin-run television has maintained Russians’ support both for the war and for him, but as the rouble falls, capital flees Moscow and the body bags of Russian soldiers covertly return, his political problems will mount. “And even if Western punishment fails to modify his behaviour in the short term, the underlying goal should be to tame him (and perhaps his successors) in the future, for Ukraine is plainly not the end,” Economist writes.
www.economist.com

Chrystia Freeland: Uneasiness and reluctance to call the military invasion as it is in Western rhetoric – it is yet another the EU and the US unnecessary concession for Vladimir Putin. New York Times:

“In the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, moral clarity is essential, but to get there we need linguistic clarity, too: Ukrainians decided to build a democracy at home and to make a trade deal with Europe; Russia invaded,” – in such way Freeland urges to estimate events in Ukraine.

www.nytimes.com