For the west, containing Russia’s aggression and keeping the western alliances (EU and NATO) united and intact are the obvious key short-term objectives.
Ukraine
Ukraine: what’s really behind Putin’s deployment of ‘peacekeeping’ troops?
Related NotesVladimir Putin’s recognition of the independence of the two breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk...
Ukraine: why a negotiated settlement on Donbas will be tough to achieve
Even the most difficult and protracted negotiations are preferable to the spectre of further armed conflict.
Ukraine veers closer to collapse
All hope is not lost for Ukraine quite yet, but the window of opportunity for local crisis management is rapidly closing.
Are Moldova and Transnistria next on Moscow’s to-do-list?
The West should send a much clearer message to Moscow and back it up with credible policy. The question, however, is whether policy makers from Berlin to Brussels, London and Washington think that Moldova is worth such a tougher line.
Can the US and Russia talk their way out of crisis in Ukraine?
More constructive dialogue between Russia and the West would possibly enable a face-saving way out of the current deadlock. This would serve both sides in the new great game over influence in Eastern Europe, but Russia would be the clear winner, and Ukraine the first victim of this new geopolitics.
Now Crimea’s in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia?
A foreign policy “success” like the one Putin has just had with Crimea, may well embolden further Russian moves; the only hope is that the West will be better prepared for a possible next round of conflict with the Kremlin.
Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine as EU considers sanctions against Russia
Crimeans have voted by a huge margin to secede from Ukraine. According to early reports released after 50% of the ballots had been counted, more than 95% of votes were in favour of joining Russia.
Squaring the circle: can Ukraine, Crimea and Russia get what they want?
In the current crisis in Ukraine, focusing on confidence-building and an interim solution first and then giving considered thought to a long-term settlement is the only way to avoid the instability and volatility that is a hallmark of so many protracted conflicts.