REPRISE: The last international lawyer, or so it seemed
A fitting commentary on 2015 follows: Originally published on September 27, 2015 THE LAST INTERNATIONAL LAWYER, OR SO IT SEEMED It was a curious time,…
Donbass
As Kerry travels to Moscow, Putin thwarts investigation into assassination of Boris Nemtsov on February 27, 2015
As John Kerry travels to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss Syria and the Ukraine, Putin’s cover-up “investigation” into those responsible for Boris…
Putin’s playing “chicken” in Syria and the risk of escalation to nuclear war
Developing With reports of Russian aircraft having forced American planes to change course in order to avoid a collision, the risks of escalation in Syria…
After the Ukraine Summit in Paris: What, if anything, was achieved?
Update and Analysis See (1) Stefan Braun (Berlin) und Christian Wernicke (Paris), “Ukraine-Gipfel in Paris: Hollande und Merkel ringen mit Putin; Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und Frankreichs…
Obama-Putin meeting at UN: The resurgence of pacifism and appeasement toward Putin and Russia in Europe and the U.S.
See Julia Smirnova, “Die wundersame Rückkehr des Wladimir Putin In der New Yorker UN-Woche drängt Putin ins Zentrum der Weltbühne. Durch die aktive Rolle im…
Who is Putin? Proof of Russian military aggression in the Ukraine
A stellar team from a leading German newspaper, Die Welt, have now assembled a powerful narrative of Russian aggression in the eastern Ukraine or Donbas…
Putin resumes fighting near Mariupol
UPDATE–Latest News (August 12, 2015) See Pierre Vaux, “Ukraine’s Cold War Hot as Combat Explodes in the Last 24 Hours,” The Daily Beast, August 12,…
The 70th anniversary of the unconditonal surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945
Detveloping On May 8, 1945 the Allied Powers accepted the unconditional surrender of Germany in a ceremony performed in Berlin. Because of the hour, it…
Putin and the Ukraine: What is the deceptive KGB man and judo master up to?
Developing Since Boris Nemtsov’s assassination on February 27 and Vladimir Putin’s 11-day disappearing act shortly thereafter, Putin, and Russia’s ongoing military aggression in the eastern…
Top articles on Putin, the Ukraine, and Russia
Check back for updates Some of the best articles by the Trenchant Observer on Putin, the Ukraine, and Russia include the following: (1) “Russian propaganda…
Leftist victory in Greece threatens continuation of EU sanctions against Russia
Developing See (1) Julia Smirnova und Boris Kalnóky, “Mit Tspiras hat Russland einen neuen Verbündeten; Die neue griechische Regierung verfügt über bemerkenswert enge Kontakte nach…
Putin attacks Mariupol, may seek land corridor to Crimea
Developing See (1) Julia Smirnova, “Mariupol wäre für die Separatisten wertvollster Ort; Die Angriffe auf Mariupol markieren eine neue Eskalation des Kriegs in der Ostukraine….
Negotiating with terrorists: Merkel’s proposal for a broad economic zone with Russia and its friends
See “Ukraine-Krise: Bundesregierung lockt Russland mit Handelszone; Zur Belohnung gäbe es eine Wirtschaftskooperation: Die Bundesregierung hat laut Medienbericht dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin eine Handelszone…
Poroshenko interview in NZZ; agreement to withdraw heavy weapons from Minsk September 19 demarcation line
Developing Vladimir Putin acting, through his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, reached an agreement in Berlin this week under which Russian “separatists” in eastern Ukraine would…
Fighting in eastern Ukraine intensifies, as implementation of Minsk Protocol stalls; future of EU sanctions regime in doubt
Revised January 14, 2014 See Frontline, “Putin’s Way”, PBS, January 13, 2015 (on Putin’s rise to power and the nature of the Russian dictatorship he…
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier convenes four-party talks in Berlin on Minsk Protocol, as Russia intensifies invasion of the Donbas
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to meet with the foreign ministers of Russia, France and Ukraine in Berlin on Monday to see if progress…
Ukrainian journalist’s question: “How many Russian servicemen have been killed in Ukraine?” At December 18 press conference, Putin has no answer
Russian Presdent Vladimir Putin gave an extended news conference in Moscow on December 18, 2014. In many ways it was a tour de force, demonstrating…
Vladimir Putin’s Press Conference on December 18, 2014 (with link to transcript)
(Partial) English Transcript, “News conference of Vladimir Putin, December 18, 2014 (15:20 Moscow). The (partial) transcript in Russian is found here. Check back for Excerpts…
The Elephant in the Room: Reflections on the nuclear deterrent and the Ukraine
Developing As Russia flexes its military muscles around the world, after annexing the Crimea and while conducting an ongoing military intervention in the eastern Ukraine,…
Obama in Control: No lethal aid for Ukraine, no combat troops in Iraq no matter what, and lethal aid for “moderates” in Syria
Friday night fatigue can affect one’s musings on world affairs. Much of the fatigue this week comes from the news. The Russian-Ukrainian War Russia is…