The U.S. and Global Security Review - Blog by Michael Novakhov

Now that Europe—driven by public outrage and Kremlin recalcitrance in the aftermath of the Flight 17 crash—is taking steps to penalize broad sectors of Russia's economy, some top diplomats are asking why the measures weren't carried out earlier.

Putin's Costs Grow
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:48 AM

WSJ.Com: Opinion

The U.S. and Europe impose serious sanctions on Russia. At last.

EU Units of Russian Banks Exempt From Sanctions
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:47 AM

European Union-based subsidiaries of Russian state-owned banks are exempt from EU sanctions, two European officials said.

Argentina Fights Off Second Default in 13 Years
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:46 AM

WSJ.Com Video - World

Argentina faces default Wednesday for the second time in 13 years if it doesn’t meet a deadline to make payments to a small group of bondholders. WSJ's Matthew Cowley explains Argentina's dispute with these creditors and the long-standing battle that stems from the country's default in 2001. (Photo: Getty Images)

MH17: Still Not Safe Passage to Crash Site
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:46 AM

WSJ.Com Video - World

International investigators may still not be able to get to the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 for some time due to the fighting between Kiev's forces and the pro-Russian rebels. WSJ's Paul Sonne joins the News Hub with Simon Constable with the details. Photo: Getty

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Playing the Long Game in Russia
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Russia now faces tougher financial sanctions, but it has deep pockets too. The key question is how long these measures will last.

Kiev Faces Donetsk Battle
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

As the Ukrainian army tightens its grip around Donetsk, the government could soon face the prospect of urban warfare in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Review: “A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal,” by Ben Macintyre by David Ignatius
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:45 AM

By now, the story of British double-agent Harold “Kim” Philby may be the most familiar spy yarn ever, fodder for whole libraries of histories, personal memoirs and novels. But Ben Macintyre manages to retell it in a way that makes Philby’s destructive genius fresh and horridly fascinating — and, to me, at least, ultimately inexplicable. In an age when every puzzle is thought to have its solution, Philby’s inner motivation remains unfathomable.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Editorial: If the West doesn’t do more for Ukraine now, it might soon be too late by Editorial Board
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:44 AM

VLADIMIR PUTIN has responded to the international outrage over the destruction of a Malaysian airliner by his proxies in eastern Ukraine by escalating his aggression. According to U.S. officials, tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons have continued to cross from Russia to Ukraine
since the passenger jet was shot down. On Wednesday,two more Ukrainian military jets were hit by anti-aircraft missiles, which Ukrainian officials said had been fired from Russia. The State Department also said Thursday that Russian artillery was firing at Ukrainian positions from across the border.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Krauthammer: The vacant presidency by Charles Krauthammer
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:44 AM

The president’s demeanor is worrying a lot of people. From the immigration crisis on the Mexican border to the Islamic State rising in Mesopotamia, Barack Obama seems totally detached from the world’s convulsions. When he does interrupt his endless rounds of golf, fundraising and photo ops, it’s for some affectless, mechanical, almost forced public statement.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

The Early Days of America’s Foreign Correspondentsby Becky Krystal
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:43 AM

Before Twitter, before Skype, before the Internet, before even — imagine really hard now — television, there was still news. And the news had to be reported. In “Hell Before Breakfast” Robert H. Patton paints a vivid picture of those nearly inconceivable times through the eyes of those who wrote about major historical events.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

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Book review: ‘Slavery, Inc.,’ on international sex trafficking, by Lydia Cacho by Manuel Roig-Franzia
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:43 AM

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, there’s a small garden sheltered from the clatter of the street where young girls quietly play inside a treehouse. The purpose of this hideaway is almost unfathomable. The girls — many of whom have been sold into sexual slavery by their mothers — are brought to the garden by activists who rescue them. With the help of therapists, the girls are “de-eroticized” in hopes that they can abandon the sexually charged mannerisms they’d been encouraged to use and go on to lead something approaching the normal lives of children.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Petro Poroshenko: Ukraine needs the U.S. to respond to Russia by Petro Poroshenko
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:43 AM

When 298 innocent people were shot out of the sky by a Russian missile 10 days ago, people everywhere finally began to understand what is at stake in Ukraine.

Half a year ago, I was not even considering becoming president of Ukraine. But like a great many Ukrainians at the time, I was disturbed that then-president Viktor Yanukovych constrained Ukraine’s future by rejecting an association agreement with the European Union, choosing a customs union with Moscow instead. Like so many of my countrymen, I believed that for Ukraine to become a modern and successful country, it needed to expand its ties with the West and end widespread corruption and abuses of power. Then, the authorities unleashed a murderous assault on demonstrators in Kiev, and Yanukovych and his partners fled to Russia, leading to Moscow’s decision to annex Crimea and support the violent separatists operating in eastern Ukraine.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Applebaum: Russia’s message to the E.U.: Money talksby Anne Applebaum
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:42 AM

David Cameron, the British prime minister, led the attack: It would be “unthinkable” for the British to sell a warship to Russia, he declared. Almost immediately, the French president, François Hollande,confirmed his intention to do precisely that: He would, he said, deliver a Mistral amphibious assault ship to the Russian navy, as contracted — and then he hit back hard. “This is a false debate led by hypocrites,” one of his party colleagues declared. “When you see how many [Russian] oligarchs have sought refuge in London, David Cameron should start by cleaning up his own back yard.”

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Editorial: A new Border Patrol chief signals he is ready to end a culture of impunity by Editorial Board
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:42 AM

FOLLOWING MONTHS of damning disclosures about the use of deadly force by Border Patrol agents, Department of Homeland Security officials tightened the rules of engagement this spring. But it remains unclear whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection — with 43,000 agents, the biggest federal law enforcement agency — will end what appears to be a culture of impunity that has shielded agents from consequences and even meaningful investigations following senseless and unjustified killings.

Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post

Editorial: Why the U.S. should end the death penaltyby Editorial Board
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:41 AM

THE STATE of Arizona executed Joseph R. Wood III on Wednesday. For those Americans who, as we do, consider the death penalty to be a dehumanizing punishment unworthy of our advanced society, that sentence should be enough to elicit profound moral discomfort. Then there was the way it happened: Executioners pumped Mr. Wood with a two-drug regimen meant to lull him toward death peacefully and quickly. Instead, he remained alive for nearly two hours, gasping and snorting, as his lawyer frantically appealed to a judge to call off the botched execution.

New sanctions for Russia—here's where they'll hurt - CNBC
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:39 AM

CNBC

New sanctions for Russia—here's where they'll hurt
CNBC
As pro-Russian militants intensify fighting in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. and European Union have stepped up an ongoing economic and trade war to pressure Moscow to back down. Now what remains to be seen is whether the moves provoke President ...

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Obama Announces New Russian Sanctions
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:39 AM

NYT > Europe

The president, speaking from the South Lawn of the White House, discussed new economic sanctions against Russia amid unrest in neighboring Ukraine.

Obama's Russia Envoy Nominee: U.S. Will 'Never Accept' Crimea Takeover by noreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:38 AM

The nominee to be next U.S. ambassador to Russia says the United States will "never accept" the Kremlin’s annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and cannot ignore Russia's actions in the Ukraine crisis.

Crime (Israel) and Punishment (Russia) - RT
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:38 AM

Crime (Israel) and Punishment (Russia)
RT
Not even Hollywood could come up with such a plot; Israel gets away with unlawful premeditated mass murder of civilians, while Russia gets framed for an airborne mass murder of civilians that has all the makings of being set up by the Kiev vassals of ...
Kerry Says Not 'a Shred' of Evidence Russia Wants to Ease Ukraine FightingTIME
EU Extends Russia Sanctions Over Eastern Ukraine ViolenceWall Street Journal
Russian foreign minister holds to hard line on UkraineLos Angeles Times
News & Observer -The Moscow Times -Sydney Morning Herald
all 440 news articles »

MH17: Australia cool on expanding sanctions against Russia as access to crash ... - Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:38 AM

Telegraph.co.uk

MH17: Australia cool on expanding sanctions against Russia as access to crash ...
Sydney Morning Herald
Australia is unlikely to immediately follow the US and EU's lead in imposing further sanctions onRussia because it still needs Moscow's help in aiding the unarmed police mission's safe passage to the MH17 crash site. The United States and the European ...
Australia Rules out New Sanctions Against RussiaABC News
West agrees to wider Russia sanctions as Kiev says forces near crash siteReuters
EU sanctions on Russia agreed putting City of London in front lineTelegraph.co.uk
TIME -Washington Post -Macleans.ca
all 4,687 news articles »

Stronger Sanctions on Russia, at Last - New York Times
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:38 AM

Stronger Sanctions on Russia, at Last
New York Times
After lengthy and difficult deliberations, the European Union agreed on Tuesday to a new and higher level of sanctions against Russia, including the closing of European capital markets toRussian state banks, an embargo on new weapons sales and the ...

Coordinated Sanctions Aim at Russia's Ability to Tap Its Oil Reserves - New York Times
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:36 AM

New York Times

Coordinated Sanctions Aim at Russia's Ability to Tap Its Oil Reserves
New York Times
WASHINGTON — The United States and Europe kicked off a joint effort on Tuesday intended to curb Russia's long-term ability to develop new oil resources, taking aim at the Kremlin's premier source of wealth and power in retaliation for its intervention ...

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State Department Concerned Over Criminal Charges Against Saakashvili by noreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:36 AM

The U.S. Department of State said it is "concerned" by the filing of criminal charges against Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.

US, EU coordinate on Russia sanctions, but will they work? - CNN
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:35 AM

New York Times

US, EU coordinate on Russia sanctions, but will they work?
CNN
Washington (CNN) -- More Russian aggression in Ukraine. More U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Moscow. What seems like diplomatic tail-chasing so many months into the Ukraine conflict invites questions about how Western powers can defuse ...
As Sanctions Pile Up, Russians' Alarm Grows Over Putin's TacticsNew York Times

Obama: New Sanctions Against Russia Will Have 'An Even Bigger Bite'ABC News
Obama joins EU in announcing expanded economic sanctions against RussiaFox News
Wall Street Journal -Washington Post-CNBC
all 3,480 news articles »

Belarus to host Ukraine crisis talks by Reuters
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:35 AM

The Moscow Times Top Stories

President Petro Poroshenko wants discussions with Russia and OSCE to focus on securing access to MH17 crash site

Belarus is to host talks between Ukraine, Russia and OSCE representatives on the crisis in eastern Ukraine, President Alexander Lukashenko's office has said.

Belarus to Host Crisis Talks Between Russia, Ukraine and OSCE by Reuters
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:35 AM

Belarus will host talks between Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE security and rights organization on the crisis in eastern Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's office said Wednesday.

A United EU against Russia by Fraser Cameron
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:35 AM

EU-RussiaCentre

Enfin. Endlich. Finally the EU has defied its critics and shown that it can agree on a tough and united position against Russia. After a lengthy meeting yesterday the EU agreed to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, targeting state-owned banks, imposing an arms embargo and restricting sales of sensitive technology and the export of equipment for the country’s oil industry.

In a joint statement Presidents Barroso and van Rompuy described the EU measures as a strong warning that ‘illegal annexation of territory and deliberate destabilisation of a neighbouring sovereign country could not be accepted in 21st-century Europe. When the violence created spirals out of control and leads to the killing of almost 300 innocent civilians in their flight from the Netherlands to Malaysia, the situation requires urgent and determined response. The EU will fulfil its obligations to protect and ensure the security of its citizens, and will stand by its neighbours and partners.’

President Obama joined the EU in announcing new US sanctions targeting major sectors of the Russian economy, including weapons, energy and finance. The banks singled out for sanctions included VTB, the Bank of Moscow, and the Russian Agriculture Bank (Rosselkhozbank). Obama said that the measures did not signal a new cold war but ‘Russia was once again isolating itself from the international community, setting back decades of genuine progress.’

To make matters worse for President Putin he also faces a bill of $50 billion after an international arbitration court in The Hague decided that Yukos shareholders should be compensated for the illegal takeover of the company by the state.

The EU had been reluctant to slap really tough sanctions on Russia until the shooting down two weeks ago of the Malaysian civilian aircraft over Eastern Ukraine. Television pictures of the masked separatists refusing access to the crash site and stories of looting from dead passengers led to a sea change in European attitudes towards Putin’s Russia. No-one was suggesting that Putin ordered the plane to be shot down but it was clear that he had created the situation whereby such an atrocity could happen. As evidence mounted that Russia was continuing to supply heavy weapons to the pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine even the most reluctant EU member states (Germany, Italy, France) recognised that security issues would have to take precedence over economic interests. Chancellor Merkel said the measures were ‘unavoidable.’

The new EU sanctions will hurt Russia. Probably the most important measure agreed yesterday was to deny Russian state-owned banks access to European (and US) capital markets. Europeans will not be permitted to buy debt, equity or other financial instruments with a maturity higher than 90 days in Russian state-owned banks or their subsidiaries. Brokering or other services linked to any such transactions will also be banned.

The arms trade will be banned although this will apply to future contracts and not affect the €1.2bn sale of two French Mistral helicopter carrier ships already agreed. Russia imports relatively few arms from the EU, but sells Europe weapons worth more than €3bn. Equipment and technology on the EU list of dual-use items, with both civilian and military purposes cannot be sold to Russian companies involved in any way in the arms industry – an export trade estimated to be worth about €20bn.

Certain technology related to the energy industry will require specific prior authorisation, and export permits will not be given for exploration or production equipment for deep-water or Arctic drilling or for shale oil projects in Russia. The measures, however, do not affect the actual trading of oil, gas or other commodities.

There will also be an extension of names on the visa ban list. The economic sanctions are due to take effect later this week and will be reviewed after three months. EU and US leaders signalled that should Russia change course as regards Ukraine then then the sanctions could be scaled back and even reversed.

Although the sanctions will damage the Russian economy – the stock market lost 3% yesterday and capital flight has accelerated – it is not clear how Russia will react. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would not retaliate or ‘fall into hysterics.’ In the past Putin has been defiant in the face of Western pressure. But these measures are of a different scale and will make a sickly economy even worse. Although he is riding high in domestic polls after the annexation of Crimea at some point ordinary Russians will have to bear the costs of Russia’s isolation. Opinion towards Putin could then change prompting a rethink in the Kremlin.

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West is ready to ratchet up sanctions against Russia, says Hammond by Rowena Mason, political correspondent
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:34 AM

Foreign secretary makes threat as EU sanctions are imposed on trade with Russia's defence, banking and energy industries

The west is prepared to "tighten the screws" further on Russia if it continues to arm rebels suspected of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine, Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, has said.

He made the threat after the European Union agreed to impose controls on trade with Russia's defence, banking and energy industries, along with more asset freezes on people close to Vladimir Putin that are due to be unveiled later on Wednesday.

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Ten Weeks In The Hands Of Ukrainian Separatistsby noreply@rferl.org (Dmitry Volchek)
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:33 AM

Russian News, All The Latest And Breaking Russia News

Ukrainian theater director Pavel Yurov and Denis Grishchuk, a Kyiv-based artist, were freed earlier this month after being held for 70 days by pro-Russian separatists. They shared their story with RFE/RL.

Russia will lose the most from sanctions by Rob Wood
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:33 AM

EU sanctions will have a far greater effect on Russia than they will on Europe

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Ukraine Liveblog Day 163: Belarus To Host Talks Between Ukraine and Russia by Editor
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:33 AM

The InterpreterThe Interpreter

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 our costs.

View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map
For links to individual updates click on the timestamps.

For the latest summary of evidence surrounding the shooting down of flight MH17 see our separate article:Evidence Review: Who Shot Down MH17?

Below we will be making regular updates so check back often.

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Ukraine seizes key town of Avdiivka close to rebel stronghold of Donetsk
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:32 AM

- Europe RSS Feed

The Ukrainian government said it has driven pro-Russian separatists out of a key town near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, as fighting continues.

Investigators again blocked from plane crash site; Ukraine blames rebel mines by Carol Morello, Michael Birnbaum
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:31 AM

Europe News: News And Headlines From Europe - The Washington Post

KIEV, Ukraine — An international team of investigators abandoned efforts to reach the crash site ofMalaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine for a fourth day Wednesday because of heavy fighting, and a Ukrainian official said approaches to the area have been mined.

MH17: vast majority of Russians believe Ukraine downed plane, poll finds by Alec Luhn in Moscow
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:31 AM

Independent survey discovers 82% of Russians blame Kiev for downing Malaysia Airlines aircraft with loss of 298 lives

The vast majority of Russians believe the Ukrainian military shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a new poll has shown, underlining how differently the tragedy has been presented in Russia than in the west.

Western leaders have said pro-Russian rebels most likely fired a surface-to-air missile at MH17, which went down over eastern Ukraine on 17 July, killing all 298 people on board. Last week, Russia's defence ministry presented satellite and radar footage that it claimed showed Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles and warplanes operating near the Malaysian airliner when it went down. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has called for a full investigation into the crash, but he has also said the "government over whose territory it occurred is responsible for this terrible tragedy".

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Russia Defiant In Face Of Unprecedented Western Sanctionsby noreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:30 AM

Russia has dismissed unprecedented Western sanctions imposed on its financial, arms and energy sectors over the Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine Welcomes Sanctions Against Russiaby By ANDREW ROTH and NEIL MacFARQUHAR
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:30 AM

NYT > Europe

The authorities also said they would not scale back their military offensive, even if it impeded access by investigators to the crash site of a Malaysian airliner.

Russia sanction tension highlights Gazprom's growing role in Britain by Terry Macalister and Matthew Taylor
Wednesday July 30th, 2014 at 11:29 AM