Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
KYIV’S POLITICAL STALEMATE COMPLICATES RELATIONS WITH NATO
The ongoing anti-NATO protests in the Crimean city of Feodosiya and their political impact in Kyiv could have been avoided or quickly defused had the parliament moved in time to authorize the entry of troops from NATO countries for joint exercises in Ukraine. President Viktor... MORE
RUSSIA-TURKEY RELATIONS: COOPERATION AND COMPETITION IN ENERGY SPHERE
Both Moscow and Ankara appear intent on further developing their lucrative energy ties. At the same time, Russia and Turkey are destined to continue vying for the role of major fuel supplier to the countries of Southern Europe. The recent visits to Turkey by two... MORE
WEAK AUTHORITY EMBOLDENS ANTI-NATO PROTESTS IN UKRAINE
The post-election crisis of Ukrainian state institutions may undermine President Viktor Yushchenko's and the Orange forces' goal to bring Ukraine into NATO during their term of office. Amid a growing deficit of effective governance, pro-Russia groups find unprecedented leeway to frustrate Kyiv's policies on this... MORE
SOCHI TALKS CONCEAL DEEP MISTRUST BETWEEN ASTANA AND MOSCOW
There is every reason to believe that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian resort town of Sochi on May 20 were highly successful for Astana. Putin generously offered his Kazakh counterpart Russian military equipment and, in what seems... MORE
POLISH COMPANY ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN LITHUANIA’S OIL SECTOR
Lithuania’s oil industry holding, Mazeikiai Nafta, seems finally to be safe from takeover by Russian state-connected interests. The holding’s centerpiece, the Mazeikiai refinery, is the only refinery in the three Baltic states and the single most lucrative business entity in the three states. The Russian... MORE
RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES TALK ABOUT GLOBAL THREATS, BUT PREPARE FOR LOCAL WAR
On May 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered an address to the Russian Federal Assembly. Focusing on issues such as reform of the armed forces and threats to national security, Putin declared that Russia now had to address many security issues and the army should... MORE
CHINESE INVESTORS CONSIDER JOINT PROJECTS WITH RUSSIAN FAR EAST
Moscow and Beijing have long hailed regional cooperation as an important element of bilateral ties. While meeting Volgograd Governor Nikolai Maksyuta on May 27, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), noted that the Volgograd region has enjoyed successful... MORE
COALITION TALKS: YUSHCHENKO DECIDES TO STEP IN
President Viktor Yushchenko will strive to carry on as the main powerbroker in Ukraine despite the constitutional reform that came into effect on January 1, 2006. This assertion was probably the main message of Yushchenko’s first speech before the new parliament elected in March. The... MORE
ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN UNDER STRONG PRESSURE TO HAMMER OUT KARABAKH PEACE
The United States, Russia, and France are stepping up pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan in a last-ditch attempt to secure a framework agreement settling the Karabakh conflict this year. The three powers co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group have set the stage for yet another Armenian-Azerbaijani... MORE
IRAN BLAMES “FOREIGN POWERS” FOR RECENT ETHNIC UNREST
Last week’s protests by Azeris in several major cities of Iran caught official Tehran off guard. Based on their response, Iranian officials fear domestic unrest could destabilize the ruling regime in Tehran. Leaders were quick to play up ethnic harmony inside Iran and argue that... MORE