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The Question of Political Power in Ukraine’s East (Part Two)
Political forces supportive of Ukraine’s unity hold the upper hand in six provinces (oblasts) that Moscow seeks to carve out as “South-Eastern Ukraine” or split... MORE
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The Question of Political Power in Ukraine’s East (Part One)
President Vladimir Putin and Russian diplomacy have recently invented the concept of “South-Eastern Ukraine” as a would-be political entity. Moscow promotes this idea as part... MORE
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The Referendums in Ukraine’s Donbas: Aftermath and Consequences
On May 11, self-declared “people’s councils” purported to hold “referendums” in approximately 20 or 25 towns or parts thereof, held by armed rebels in Ukraine’s... MORE
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IMF Approves $17 Billion Loan for Ukraine
On April 30, the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a new $17 billion loan for Ukraine, which will be disbursed over two... MORE
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Kremlin Gives Go-Ahead to Referendums in Eastern Ukraine
For all their lack of capacity (let alone legitimacy) to organize any kind of voting, pro-Russia forces in Ukraine’s Donbas are proceeding with secession referendums... MORE
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Putin and OSCE’s Chairman Coordinate Road Map for Ukraine
As anticipated (see EDM, May 1), pro-Russia groups have failed to organize the secession referendums, planned for May 11 in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts... MORE
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The Self-Styled Separatist Referendum in Eastern Ukraine Is on Despite Putin’s Request
A glimmer of hope of a de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis appeared on May 7, when President Vladimir Putin announced he will “ask the representatives... MORE
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Geneva Agreement and the OSCE: Two Non-Solutions to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The April 17 Geneva Statement “on the situation in Ukraine” (by Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine) has proven to be stillborn.... MORE
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Hostages for Trading: An Innovation of Putin’s Kremlin in Ukraine
On May 3, Russia’s proxy forces in Ukraine’s city of Slovyansk released from captivity the military observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in... MORE
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South Stream: Bypassing Ukraine and Dividing the EU
While Washington and Brussels are imposing more sanctions against Russia for destabilizing eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin is retaliating by deepening divisions within the European Union... MORE