The presidential campaign in Ukraine entered a decisive stage on May 14 as the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) launched official registration of candidates for nomination. Last weekend saw congresses of all major political forces nominating presidential candidates. Every candidate must now collect one million signatures... MORE

On May 14-15, Ukraine hosted for the first time a summit of Central European countries. Presidents Roman Herzog of Germany, Thomas Klestil of Austria, Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic, Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, Arpad Goencz of Hungary, Milan Kucan of Slovenia, Emil Constantinescu of... MORE

Moscow continued its call for a halt to the NATO bombing during deliberations at the UN Security Council as well. On May 15 Russia joined China in abstaining from voting on a resolution commending humanitarian efforts on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Kosovo... MORE

Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov expressed his disapproval of the State Duma's attempt to impeach President Boris Yeltsin for his role in military actions against Chechnya. According to Maskhadov, Russian society as a whole is responsible for the war, including the Duma deputies. Maskhadov said that... MORE

Russia remained active in Balkans diplomacy over the weekend while continuing its criticism of the United States and NATO for the alliance's ongoing air campaign against Yugoslavia. Russian President Boris Yeltsin warned twice last week that Moscow might withdraw from its role as a mediator... MORE

Last week, rumors were floated that the prime minister's post could be offered to either former Prime Minister Sergei Kirienko, former Finance Minister Boris Federov or former Central Bank Chairman Sergei Dubinin. Another leading "reformer," privatization architect Anatoly Chubais, who currently heads United Energy Systems,... MORE

It is fast becoming conventional wisdom that Sergei Stepashin, Russia's acting prime minister, will be confirmed by the Duma in its first vote, which is set for May 19. The logic is simple, yet compelling. The Kremlin can put up one candidate three times--or a... MORE

The State Duma's attempt to impeach President Boris Yeltsin has come to nothing. The results showed that while the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) and its main ally, the Agrarian Party, voted virtually unanimously for all five counts of impeachment, the expected defections... MORE

The chairman of the Ukrainian People's Democratic Party (NDP), Anatoly Matvienko, has invited President Leonid Kuchma to participate in the NDP congress on May 14, at which the party is expected to voice support of Kuchma's second bid. At the same time--in an open letter... MORE

Beset by constant squabbles over policy and personnel issues, Vilis Kristopans' minority coalition government is currently experiencing one of the most trying internal conflicts in its six-month existence. On May 11, Kristopans dismissed Economics Minister Ainars Slesers from his post. A successful young businessman before... MORE