Ukraine, South China Sea: Donald Trump and the U.S. failure to defend international law
It comes as no surprise that President Donald Trump, who has demonstrated little regard for law in general, has failed spectacularly to uphold and defend…
Lugansk
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,…
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…
REPRISE: After disappearing act, Vladimir Putin remains prime suspect in Nemtsov assassination
After disappearing act, Vladimir Putin remains prime suspect in Nemtsov assassination Originally published on March 17, 2015 See (1) Nemtsov assassination represents a stark warning…
After disappearing act, Vladimir Putin remains prime suspect in Nemtsov assassination
Developing See (1) “Ukraine Update: Overview and signficance of the continuing Russan invasion »Nemtsov assassination represents a stark warning to the opposition: ‘Criticize Putin, especially…
Nemtsov assassination represents a stark warning to the opposition: “Criticize Putin, especially on the Ukraine, and you may die” (Updated March 6, 2015)
UPDATE (March 6, 2004) See Steffen Dobbert “Interview: ‘Putin hat Nemzow exekutieren lassen.’ Was Putin mit Hitler verbindet, und weshalb nur Russlands Präsident hinter dem…
U.S., France, U.K. and other members should vehemently oppose any Russian-backed Security Council resolution endorsing Minsk II agreement
News reports speak of the intention of Russia to bring a resolution to the U.N. Security Council which would incorporate the terms of the Minsk…
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…
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…
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…
A rudderless U.S. foreign policy: Obama flounders in dealing with the Ukraine, ISIS, and Ebola
Draft While the United States has finally, and belatedly, begun military actions in Iraq and Syria to slow the advance of ISIS forces, the country…
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…
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…
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…