We believe the Gazprom plan of pressure on Ukraine is related to a Russian scheme to trade gas peace for an agreement to stop Ukraine’s military efforts and leave the pro-Russian puppet governments in Luhansk and Donetsk in place. The Putin regime plan appears motivated by a desire to turn the two Ukrainian oblasts into a new version of Transdniestria, leaving another zone of instability that works in Russia’s favor and weakens Ukraine.

 

This week, Ihor Kolomoyskiy, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, proposed to newly elected President Petro Poroshenko that a wall almost 2,000 km long be built along the Ukraine-Russia border. According to the project, the wall should separate Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv Oblasts from the Russian Federation and prevent the infiltration of combatants, weapons, and military equipment into Ukrainian territory.” 

 

Paul Goble often speaks unpleasant truths in his “Windows on Eurasia” series. The commentary below is one of his most important and on-target of recent times. As little as anyone in the West wants to admit it, the community of democratic nations can take decisive action to help stop Putin’s aggressive ambitions in Ukraine – or prepare for a much more difficult task of stopping him after he gobbles up parts of what we think of as Europe today. This is a bill that must be paid – and if Ukraine falls the price will escalate astronomically.

The gathered crowd chanted “Glory to Ukraine!” and “Heroes don’t die!”, and sang the Ukrainian national anthem.

Kyiv's Most Fearless Man 2014/6/16 3:08:24

"For me, it's just a pastime," he says diffidently. "Above 100 meters, there's actually not much difference."

 

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen: “Ukraine isn't NATO territory, but Vladimir Putin has destroyed an enormous amount of trust with his conduct. That's why we have to take the concerns of our Eastern partners very seriously.”

 

“Sightings of these tanks were later reported in open sources in Snizhne and then Makiivka, near Donetsk.  The tanks do not bear markings or camouflage paint like those used by the Ukrainian military.  In fact, they do not have markings at all, which is reminiscent of tactics used by Russian elements that were involved in destabilising Crimea.”

 

 

“…the president instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to allocate compensation by June 17 in the amount of UAH 610,000 to the family of each of the military and border control personnel killed in the destruction of the air force Il-76.”

 

"The United States condemns the attack on the Russian Embassy in Kiev, and calls on Ukrainian authorities to meet their Vienna convention obligations to provide adequate security," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. 

 

The FIBA Board declared its willingness to start negotiations immediately with the Ukrainian side on the possibility of the country hosting EuroBasket 2017, provided that some necessary conditions are met.

 

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