Staunton, February 4 – Many in the West fear that providing military assistance to Ukraine would open the way for disasters ranging from the potential loss of an American helicopter as happened in Somalia to a possible nuclear exchange between Russia and the West as Vladimir Putin has threatened. But such arguments, as emotionally compelling […]
Tag: Moscow
Neo-Kremlinology Has Real Limits, Schulmann Says
Staunton, February 2 — The revival of Kremlinology, of relying on a variety of indirect indications of who is closer to the top leader and who may be opposed to him, is “a bad sign,” Ekaterina Schulmann says, not only because of what it says about the increasingly closed nature of Russian politics but also […]
Moscow Seeking To Make Russian Diaspora a Soviet-Style Political Weapon Against West
Staunton, February 2 – Russian embassies and other organizations Moscow has set up ostensibly to promote Russian ideas are actually working to transform Russian diasporas into obedient political weapons against the West and are treating them in ways that recall Soviet times, according to the head of the Russian compatriots organization in the Netherlands. Russian […]
Americanization Of Russian Language And Culture Threatens National Security, Military Writer Says
Staunton, January 27 – For more than 150 years, the Anglo-Saxon world has been the main competitor and threat to the Russian way of life, and today, the United States is carrying out ‘a ‘quiet’ and bloodless’ war against Russia by promoting the Americanization of its language and culture, according to a Moscow military writer. […]
Putin Can’t Lead ‘Post-Crimea Consensus’ In Russia, Morozov Says
Staunton, January 25 – The Anschluss of Crimea could have become the occasion for the formation of a new nation in Russia, just as Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine have contributed to nation building in Ukraine. But Vladimir Putin has not been willing or perhaps even able to take that step, Aleksandr Morozov says. The reason, […]
Baltic Leaders Unwilling To Work With Russia Must And Will Give Way To Those Who Are
Staunton, January 23 — Following the “tectonic” shifts in the world that Russia’s moves in Ukraine began, the leaders of the Baltic countries must recognize “the need to have a dialogue with Russia,” the head of the Moscow Institute for the Russian Abroad says. If they don’t, others who are ready to do so “will […]
Moscow Agrees To Try Gyumri Killer In Armenia But In a Russian Court
Staunton, January 22 – Fearful that Armenian anger could lead to a break with Moscow or even spark an orange-style revolution in Yerevan, Moscow has agreed that the Russian soldier who has now confessed to killing an Armenian family in Gyurmri will be tried in Armenia but in a Russian court with Russian laws. Whether […]
Kadyrov’s Ambition To Be Political Leader Of Russia’s Muslims Threatens Country’s Unity
Staunton, January 19 — Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s aspirations to be the leader of Russia’s Muslims threatens the stability and unity of the Russian Federation by exacerbating conflicts between Moscow and the predominantly Muslim non-Russian republics and by intensifying concerns among Russians about what Kadyrov’s efforts mean for Russia. That conclusion is suggested but not […]
‘Cyborg,’ Not ‘Annexation,’ Word of the Year in Ukraine
Staunton, January 7 – During 2014, “Cyborg” was used more often in the Ukrainian portion of the Internet than any other word, including some like “annexation” and “war” which might have been expected to take the lead, according to a study conducted by Mislovo, the online dictionary of contemporary Ukrainian usage. This slang term for […]
Königsberg ‘Cries Out’ For Independence From Moscow, Activist Says
Staunton, January 12 – Kaliningrad — or Königsberg as it was historically called and is known to many of its residents — because of its geographic situation as an exclave and the current economic and political situation “simply cries out for the need for separation from [Moscow], for independence and the setting up of a […]