Rebuilding the Obama-Putin Trust. Exclusive: Heading into the last quarter of his presidency, Barack Obama must decide whether he will let the neocons keep pulling his strings or finally break loose and pursue a realistic foreign policy seeking practical solutions to world problems, including the crisis with Russia over Ukraine, says ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern.
By Ray McGovern The year 2015 will surely mark a watershed in relations between the United States and Russia, one way or the other. However, whether tensions increase – to war-by-proxy in Ukraine or an even wider war – or whether they subside depends mostly on President Barack Obama. Key to answering this question is a second one: Is Obama smart enough and strong enough to rein in Secretary of State John Kerry, the neocons and “liberal interventionists” running the State Department and to stand up to the chicken hawks in Congress, most of whom feel free to flirt with war because they know nothing of it. Putin’s elder brother Viktor died during the siege. Russia warns US against supplying ‘lethal defensive aid’ to Ukraine. German foreign minister speaks out against Ukraine joining NATO. Published time: November 23, 2014 17:10 AFP Photo / Yurko Dyachyshyn Germany's FM, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has said he is against Ukraine joining NATO.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, he said he considers “that it is possible for NATO to have a partnership with Ukraine, but not membership.” He also added that he does not believe it is realistic for Ukraine to join the European Union in the foreseeable future, as the economic and political modernization of Ukraine is a “project for a few generations.” He also urged Kiev to introduce reforms to fight corruption and mismanagement of the economy, saying they had to start immediately and that there was no time to lose.
German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Meanwhile, Russia President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said one of the means of changing the balance of power in the world to eventually subdue Russia was NATO’s gradual approach toward its borders, which made Russia “nervous”, he said, speaking to the BBC. ‘Premier of war’: Czech president says Yatsenyuk not seeking peaceful solution for E. Ukraine. Published time: January 03, 2015 15:49 Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk (RIA Novosti / Alexandr Maksimenko) Czech President Milos Zeman has slammed Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, calling him “a prime minister of war” because he is unwilling to peacefully solve the civil conflict in the country.
"From the statements byPM Yatsenyuk, I think that he is a ‘prime minister of war’, because he does not want a peaceful solution to the crisis [in Ukraine] recommended by the European Commission,” Zeman told Pravo, a Czech daily newspaper. Yatsenyuk wants to solve Ukrainian conflict “by the use of force," added the Czech leader. Czech President Milos Zeman (AFP Photo / Patrick Kovarik) According to Zeman, the current policy of Kiev authorities has two “faces.” The second “face” is that of PM Yatsenyuk, who has an uncompromising position toward self-defense forces in Eastern Ukraine. READ MORE: 'Shame on you!’ Ukraine. Ukraine ( i/juːˈkreɪn/; Ukrainian: Україна, transliterated: Ukrayina, [ukrɑˈjinɑ]) is a country in Eastern Europe.[9] It has an area of 603,628 km2 (233,062 sq mi), making it the largest country entirely within Europe.[10][11][12] Ukraine borders Russia to the east, northeast and south, Belarus to the northwest, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively.
During the Middle Ages, the area of modern Ukraine was the key center of East Slavic culture, as epitomized by the powerful state of Kievan Rus'. Following its fragmentation in the 13th century, the territory was contested, ruled and divided by a variety of powers, including Lithuania, Poland, the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungary, and Russia. Ukraine has long been a global breadbasket because of its extensive, fertile farmlands. Etymology[edit] History[edit] Early history[edit] Golden Age of Kiev[edit] Main article: Kievan Rus'