Tag: Crimea

Ukraine Liveblog Day 42: Diplomacy Takes Center Stage

March 31, 2014

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met for four hours today to work to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis. Differences remain, but will diplomacy have any effect? Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please […]

Day 41: Russian-Trained Snipers Killed Maidan Protesters

March 30, 2014

Exclusive photos and videos obtained by the Daily Beast expose the Russian-trained state killers behind the sniper deaths on Maidan. Vitali Klitschko has announced he will not run for President as Ukraine continues to plan for increased Russian military intervention. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story […]

Moscow has ‘No Alternative’ to Annexing South Ossetia, Russian Analyst Says

Staunton, March 30 – Ever since the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008, South Ossetian leaders have wanted their republic to be annexed by the Russian Federation and combined with the larger North Ossetian Republic. But Moscow had been reluctant to take that step. On the one hand, the Kremlin clearly believed that any […]

Crimean Tatars Reaffirm Choice to Pursue Autonomy within Ukraine

Staunton, March 30 – Refat Chubarov, the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars, reaffirmed in comments to the BBC that the Crimean Tatar nation does not recognize Russia’s annexation of their homeland and that they are recommitting themselves to the establishment of a national-territorial autonomy in Crimea. In making these decisions, the Kurultay, […]

Feeling Like a Great Power is One Thing; Remaining One is Quite Another, Russian Commentators Say

March 29, 2014

Staunton, March 28 – Russian society is experiencing euphoria over what Vladimir Putin proclaims and many of them feel that with the seizure of Crimea, Russia has regained “the status of a great power.” But Moscow commentators warn it is far easier to claim or even believe Russia is again a great power than it […]

Has Putin Decided on a New Period of ‘Phony War’?

Staunton, March 29 – Many have drawn parallels between what Vladimir Putin is doing and how the West is reacting with the Cold War or with the appeasement policies of Munich. But now that Putin has carried out the Crimean Anschluss, a far better analogy for today may be to “the phony war” between the […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 40: Vitali Klitschko Backs Out of Presidential Race

Vitali Klitschko has announced he will not run for President as Ukraine continues to plan for increased Russian military intervention. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards […]

The Real ‘Crimean Referendum’ – Few There Asking for Russian Passports

March 28, 2014

Staunton, March 28 – Over the past week, somewhat more than 20,000 residents of Crimea have asked for Russian Federation passports and Russian officials have handed out about 6500, Anatoly Fomenko, the deputy head of Russia’s Federal Migration Service, told Russia’s official ITAR-TASS news agency earlier this week. Fomenko said that Russian officials are trying […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 39: Provoking a War?

US intelligence estimates for the amount of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders continues to rise, and is eclipsed by Ukrainian estimates. Meanwhile, President Obama warns Putin to “move back those troops.” Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to […]

Russia This Week: Distorting the News (March 24-28)

Russians continue to protest the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine following a mass march against Putin’s forcible annexation of Crimea last week. (Go here and here for the last weeks’ news.) Defendants in the Bolotnaya Case charged with “instigating riots” remain on trial. The Russian government continues to make moves to suppress dissent, chiefly by blocking […]