In another chapter of Ukraine’s economic and ideological struggle between Europe and Russia, the east and the west, Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovych “got lost” on his way to have meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. There remains a debate, however, as to whether Yanukovych was secretly negotiating with Putin, or whether he was being snubbed by […]
Tag: Customs Union
Then We’ll Turn Off the Gas…
Russia’s trade wars are showing no signs of ending any time soon. In fact, despite signs that the Kremlin has fired a man who has been the face of Russia’s isolationist and exclusivist policies, a development which some said was a sign of change, Russia is now increasing its threats to Ukraine by making them […]
Why Putin Discarded Onishchenko
Gennady Onishchenko, head of the Federal Consumer Protection Service, has been dismissed. Onishchenko was seen as the face of many Russian isolationist policies, such as the banning of “harmful” food products from many former Soviet countries which had expressed interests in joining the European Union instead of the Russian alternative, the Customs Union. The Moscow […]
Almost 200,000 Moldovans Will Be Denied Entry Into Russia
Russia has been in a trade war with Ukraine after the latter moved to enter the European Union instead of the Russian-made alternative, the Customs Union. In response, the Russian government has blocked imports from Ukraine, and even threatened to deport workers with Ukrainian accents, moves that have further isolated Russia from central and western […]
A Divorce, the Eurasian Way
Vladimir Pastukhov writes this saucy analogy for the liberal newspaper, Novaya Gazeta. In it he compares Russia’s reaction to Ukraine’s attempts to join the European Union to the actions of a scorned wife as her husband leaves her for a better offer. For more information, see our analysis of the Customs Union and our newest […]
In its Dialogue with Kiev, Moscow Could Get Personal
Russia has levied sanctions against Ukraine, backing up hundreds of freight trucks at the border, all in protest of Ukraine’s decision to enter the European Union instead of the Moscow-centric Customs Union. The move may cost Ukraine $2.5 billion this year alone. Now, there are signs that Russia could turn its already infamous anti-immigration policies […]
Trade War With Russia Could Devastate Ukraine’s Budget
By the end of the year, tough customs measures taken by Russia against Ukrainian goods could cost Ukraine up to $2.5 billion. Ukrainian exports of goods to Russia have virtually stopped. This is according to the statement by the Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU). Vehicles carrying Ukrainian products are subject to additional scrutiny for […]
A More Imperfect Union
Luke Rodeheffer is an MA candidate in International History and a research assistant at Koç University in Istanbul, as well as a freelance analyst on Eurasian geopolitical affairs. He tweets on Eurasian geopolitics at twitter.com/lukerodeheffer. Supporters of the Customs Union, which was introduced in 2012 to establish an economic compact between and among Russia, Ukraine, and […]