France

2016 U.S. Presidential election, coverage of foreign events, Donald Trump, elections, European Union, France, freedom of speech, History, human rights, International Law, propaganda, Russia, Vladimir Putin March 31, 2017

Two of top three candidates in French presidential primary are friendly to Russia

Developing Russia is reportedly intervening in the French presidential elections, right now. Two of the top three candidates in the April primary are friendly to…

Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, History, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, syria, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin October 3, 2015

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…

coverage of foreign events, Crimea, Deutschland, France, Germany, History, International Law, NATO, OSCE, Russia, sanctions, syria, U.N. Charter, U.S. news coverage, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin October 1, 2015

Ukraine summit on October 2 with Putin in Paris: Remember who you are talking to

See Benoît Vitkine, “Un sommet sur l’Ukraine à Paris dans l’ombre de la Syrie, Le Monde, le 1 Octobre 2015 (à 10h53 – Mis à…

France, freedom of speech, human rights, Intelligence, International Law, NSA, United States June 24, 2015

Rule of Law erodes in France as Parliament authorizes massive data collection with no judicial oversight or review

France takes a big step backwards in the struggle for the rule of law, as the Parliament passes a law authorizing massive data collection without…

coverage of foreign events, Crimea, Dictatorship, Dimming Vision of World Affairs, electronic curtain, foreign correspondents, foreign news coverage, freedom of speech, Google, Google filtering, Google indexing, human rights, internal supporters of human rights, Russia, U.S. news coverage, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, war crimes March 18, 2015

Not indexed by Google Update: Putin and Nemtsov

The ability of Google and other search engines to index a blog article or web page gives them powers equivalent to those of a totalitarian…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, State Department, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 28, 2015

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…

Crimea, Deutschland, Dictatorship, European Union, France, Germany, History, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 24, 2015

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….

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, use of force, Vladimir Putin January 23, 2015

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…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, NATO, OSCE, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 21, 2015

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…

Crimea, human rights, International Law, OSCE, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 13, 2015

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…

Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, International Law, OSCE, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 9, 2015

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…

Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes January 5, 2015

Hollande “understands” Putin as stage is set for collapse of EU sanctions against Russia

It is peculiar how articles with the greatest time-sensitivity and broadest political importance are often not indexed by Google in a timely manner. It is…

Crimea, France, International Law, NATO, sanctions, self-defense, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes November 25, 2014

Hollande states Mistral delivery suspended until further notice

President Francois Hollande has now publicly reaffirmed that the delivery of the first of two Mistral-class warships to Russia is suspended until a new order…

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chemical weapons, Crimea, Dictatorship, European Union, France, Germany, International Law, Russia, sanctions, State Department, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes November 22, 2014

Mistral-class warship “The Vladilovstok” ready to sail; Hollande sets stage for a “mysterious” departure in the night

For the latest news reports, see Isabelle Lassarre, “Mistral : le scénario qui inquiète les autorités françaises,” Le Figaro, 20 Novembre 2014. For background, see…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, elections, European Union, Germany, History, human rights, International Law, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes October 20, 2014

REPRISE II: Dare anyone say it? “We applaud the courage of the Ukrainian government and people in defending public order and the sovereignty and territorial independence of the Ukraine.”

October 20, 2014 Since the article below was written, Russia continued its invasion of the eastern Ukraine sending in Russian troops, tanks, artillery and other…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Crimes Against Humanity, Deutschland, European Union, foreign correspondents, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, State Department, syria, U.N. Charter, U.S. Congress, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes September 20, 2014

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…

Barack Obama, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, syria, U.N. Charter, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes September 17, 2014

Poroshenko’s capitulation: The new “special status” law and implementation of the Minsk Protocol

UPDATE: The text in Ukrainian of the new law on “special status” is found here. A very rough translation into English is found in Nikolai…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, International Law, Iraq, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Military, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin, war crimes September 14, 2014

The Russia-Ukraine War: Putin, cunning judo master, versus Obama, NATO, and EU, conflicted and confused; Protagonists continue battle for Ukraine and vision of world order

Developing Russian President Vladimir Putin, a cunning and brilliant tactician who has now taken on the entire international legal and political order through his invasions…

Barack Obama, Crimea, Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, History, human rights, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, U.S. Military, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin September 13, 2014

Putin’s response to new sanctions: (1) New invasion of Donbas with white truck convoy, entering without authorization or inspection; and (2) Renewed fighting (artillery and rockets) in Donetsk

Putin Escalates Crisis in Response to New Sanctions Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted true to form, in response to the entry into force of…

Deutschland, European Union, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, Justice Department, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, U.S Foreign Relations, Ukraine, United States, use of force, Vladimir Putin September 12, 2014

Full text of new EU sanctions against Russia (September 8, 2014)

Developing See “New EU sanctions hit Russia,” EU Business, 12 September 2014 (11:10 CET). The full text of the new EU sanctions against Russia because…

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The Trenchant Observer

International Law, Politics, and Security