What’s behind Trump’s pressure on Zelensky to work things out with Putin
What’s behind President Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get together with Vladimir Putin and “solve your problem”? President Trump: And I really…
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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…
Americans’ knowledge of international law, the military conquest of the Crimea, and proper dental floss use
Developing “Thirty-eight percent of Americans do not know that dental floss is used between the teeth, not between the tongue and lips.” –Joe Queenan, “Grungy…
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,…
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…
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…
Ukraine Update: Renewal of sanctions, “progress”, and one-sided implementation of Minsk II Agreement (with full text in English)
“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.” Will Rogers It is quite amazing how the ceasefire called for…
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…
February 11 Minsk Summit on the Ukraine: Latest update and analysis (Updated February 10, 2015)
Updated February 10, 2015 BACKGROUND The following articles, by some of the most experienced and incisive commentators writing on international affairs, provide the context and…
REPRISE: Kiev caves in to Russian military threats, offering far-reaching concessions in eastern Ukraine; Pacifism and appeasement grip Wasington and Europe; First signs of Russian military intervention appear, as troops on border are poised to strike
Originally published April 12, 2014 The Atmosphere in Washington On Saturday, April 12, The New York Times did not have a story (or even a…
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…