"Triggering a big geopolitical crisis with NATO is an easy way for Putin to shock the oil price back up. Putin’s covert Ukraine interventions up to now have not succeeded in that. In sum: Today’s oil price will be most affected by two men — King Salman and how he uses his spare capacity to produce oil and Czar Putin and how he uses his spare capacity to produce trouble." - Czar Putin's Next Moves - New York Times | Russia's act of war against the United States - Hot Air
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Putin - Google News
ZURICH — Last March, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, supposedly in defense of Russian-speakers there, was just like “what Hitler did back in the ‘30s“ — using ethnic Germans to justify his invasion of neighboring lands. At the time, I thought such a comparison was over the top. I don’t think so anymore. I’d endorse Mrs. Clinton’s comparison purely for the shock value: It draws attention to the awful things Putin is doing to Ukraine, not to mention his own country, whose credit rating was just reduced to junk status.
Putin’s use of Russian troops wearing uniforms without insignia to invade Ukraine and to covertly buttress Ukrainian rebels bought and paid for by Moscow — all disguised by a web of lies that would have made Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels blush and all for the purpose of destroying Ukraine’s reform movement before it can create a democratic model that might appeal to Russians more than Putin’s kleptocracy — is the ugliest geopolitical mugging happening in the world today.
Ukraine matters — more than the war in Iraq against the Islamic State, a.k.a., ISIS. It is still not clear that most of our allies in the war against ISIS share our values. That conflict has a big tribal and sectarian element. It is unmistakably clear, though, that Ukraine’s reformers in its newly elected government and Parliament — who are struggling to get free of Russia’s orbit and become part of the European Union’s market and democratic community — do share our values. If Putin the Thug gets away with crushing Ukraine’s new democratic experiment and unilaterally redrawing the borders of Europe, every pro-Western country around Russia will be in danger.
“Putin fears a Ukraine that demands to live and wants to live and insists on living on European values — with a robust civil society and freedom of speech and religion [and] with a system of values the Ukrainian people have chosen and laid down their lives for,” Natalie Jaresko, Ukraine’s finance minister, told a Ukraine seminar at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week.
The U.S. and Germany have done a good job organizing the sanctions on Russia. While the Obama administration recently decided to deploy some American soldiers to Ukraine in the spring to train the Ukrainian National Guard, I’d support increasing our military aid to Ukraine’s Army now so it can better defend itself from the estimated 9,000 troops Putin has infiltrated into Ukraine.
Ukraine also needs $15 billion in loans and grants in the next year to stabilize its economy, in addition to its bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Ukrainians had dug themselves into a deep, deep hole with their 20-plus years of industrial levels of corruption from a series of bad governments after Kiev became independent of the Soviet Union. The reason for hope is that the revolution and latest elections in Ukraine have brought in a new generation of reformers, who are rapidly transforming ministries and passing tax and transparency regulations. They are actually welcoming hardheaded, good-governance benchmarks as a condition for Western aid. But if they deliver, we must deliver.
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has been traveling across Europe this week in part to lock in the aid package for Kiev. The U.S. has committed its share, but the European Union is still balking a bit. Putin’s aim is to sow enough instability that the West will hold back aid so the Ukraine reformers will fail to deliver and be discredited. That would be a shame.
Global financier George Soros, who’s been helping foster Ukrainian reform, told the Davos gathering that “there is a new Ukraine that is determined to be different from the old Ukraine. ... What makes it unique is that it is not only willing to fight but engage in executing a set of radical reforms. It is up against the old Ukraine that has not disappeared ... and up against a very determined design by President Putin to destabilize it and destroy it. But it is determined to assert the independence and European orientation of the new Ukraine.”
Ukraine could also impact the price of oil. The two biggest actors who can shape that price today are Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman, and Russia’s czar, Putin. If the Saudis decide to cut back production significantly, the price of oil will go up. And if Putin decides to fully invade Ukraine, or worse, one of the Baltic states, and test whether NATO will really fight to defend either, the price of oil will go up. With his economy in shambles, Putin’s regime is now almost entirely dependent on oil and gas exports, so he’s really hurting with the oil price collapse. The odds of Putin fully invading Ukraine or the Baltics are low, but do not rule out either.
Triggering a big geopolitical crisis with NATO is an easy way for Putin to shock the oil price back up. Putin’s covert Ukraine interventions up to now have not succeeded in that. In sum: Today’s oil price will be most affected by two men — King Salman and how he uses his spare capacity to produce oil and Czar Putin and how he uses his spare capacity to produce trouble.
 Businessweek |
Czar Putin's Next Moves
New York Times ZURICH — Last March, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine, supposedly in defense of Russian-speakers there, was just like “what Hitler did back in the '30s“ — using ... Sanctions Aren't Enough to Stop Putin, and He Knows ItBusinessweek Why Putin Is the Big Winner in Greece's ElectionsForeign Policy (blog) Putin eyes benefits as rebels gain in UkraineReuters Yahoo News- Bloomberg all 3,597 news articles » |
 Версии.сом |
Почему Путин крупно выиграл от результата выборов в Греции
Inopressa Приход к власти в Греции леворадикальной коалиции СИРИЗА "может принести нежданную победу президенту России Владимиру Путину, усугубив внутриевропейские разногласия по поводу того, как следует реагировать на недавние агрессивные шаги Москвы на Украине", пишут в ... Путин поздравил Ципраса с победой возглавляемой им партии на выборах в парламент ГрецииТАСС Путин поздравил лидера греческой партии СИРИЗА с победой на выборахРоссийская Газета Путин поздравил Ципраса с победой на выборах в ГрецииВзгляд Газета.Ru Все похожие статьи: 2 285 » |
"Мозг Путина" говорит, что Путин к нему не прислушивается. А знаем ли мы, к кому он прислушивается?
Inopressa Круг общения президента РФ Владимира Путина изменился, рассказали The Christian Science Monitor осведомленные источники, в том числе философ Александр Дугин, который, по его словам, прошлым летом лишился доступа к первому лицу. По мнению корреспондента Фреда Уэйра ... и другие » |
Staunton, January 27 – Despite fears that Vladimir Putin may soon shift from his partially covert and still in some circles deniable offensive in Ukraine to a full-scale military invasion of that country, there are five compelling reasons why that won’t happen, Kseniya Kirillova says. But the very fact that a full-scale invasion won’t happen is pushing the Kremlin leader to behave like a terrorist.
In a commentary for Novy Region–2 today, the Seattle-based commentator discusses the five reasons she says Putin will not invade and then points to the consequences tragic now for Ukraine and the West but ultimately even fateful for Putin and the country which he rules.
First of all, Kirillova says, as many have noted for some time, Russia simply does not have sufficient forces to “hold all the occupied territories” in Ukraine that its army might be able to seize to begin with. Ukraine and the world are changing, and “the tactics of World War II will not work.” Seizing territory doesn’t mean one can hold it.
Second, she continues, there is the impact of sanctions. However critical one may be of the West for its lack of decisiveness in response to Putin’s aggression, the sanctions it has imposed are having a serious impact on the Russian economy and would be expanded in the event of a major invasion and have even more negative consequences for the country.
Third, the United States has still more “radical means” at its disposal, even if Europeans are not inclined to go along at present. On the one hand, Washington could cut Russia off from the SWIFT banking system, something that would hurt many more Russian businesses. And on the other, it would freeze the accounts of Putin and his accomplices now in Western banks.
Fourth, Kirillova points out, the collapse of the Russian economy is leading to “destabilization within Russia itself.” Russians are already angry about the decline in their standard of living. Protests are likely to emerge and spread, and Putin will need his army to suppress them and maintain his power – which is after all his primary goal.
And fifth, Putin lacks the cadres needed for such a war. Most of his generals are corrupt and have accounts abroad as well, and those around Putin “do not intend to die for their chief.” Indeed, Putin’s entourage recalls that of Yanukovich: they’ll support the leader until things get tough, and then they will begin to desert him.
For all these reasons, Kirillova says, Putin can’t afford and won’t launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But that does not mean that he won’t continue to act as he has. And his actions are intended to intimidate and blackmail the West “and in the first instance, the United States.”
Because of Russia’s weakness rather than its strength, she suggests, “the Kremlin is acting in the classical manner of terrorists – by taking hostages.” In this case, they are not individuals but rather Ukraine and indeed “all Europe.” That is horrific for the hostages and frightening for everyone else. But it should scare the authors of this policy even more.
That is because there has never been a terrorist that the West ultimately has not been able to deal with – not Hitler, not Bin Laden, not Idi Amin, not Milosevic, and not “many others as well.” Kirillova concludes by observing that in her view, “very soon Putin will occupy an honored place in this list as well.”
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The FBI has arrested a Russian man as a spy, breaking up a trio of agents who allegedly sought to recruit New Yorkers into the service of the Kremlin’s foreign intelligence service. Federal officers arrested Evgeny Buryakov, “aka Zhenya,” in the Bronx yesterday and charged him with conspiracy to gather intelligence on behalf of Russia. The office of New York prosecutor Preet Bharara confirmed that Igor Sporyshev and Victor Podobny, both of whom have left the US, were charged in absentia with the same offence.
 ABC News |
Feds: Russian Spy Posing as Banker Nabbed in NYC
ABC News An alleged Russian spy posing as a banker in Manhattan has been arrested, federal officials said today. The banker, identified in a criminal complaint as Evgeny Buryakov, is accused of working with agents of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the ... 3 Men Are Charged With Serving as Secret Agents for Russia in New YorkNew York Times US Charges Russian Banker in Spy CaseWall Street Journal Russia condemns arrest of Russian citizen in NY spy ring caseLos Angeles Times The Guardian -Fox News -Reuters all 704 news articles » |
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Moscow Condemns Arrest of Alleged Russian Spy in NYCby webdesk@voanews.com (Isabela Cocoli)
Russia on Tuesday condemned the United States for the arrest of an alleged Russian spy, condemning the move as a "provocation" that would further damage already strained ties. U.S. counterintelligence agents arrested a Russian national Monday in New York City and charged him with espionage. Evgeny Buryakov, 39, and two other Russians — Igor Sporyshev and Victor Podobnyy, who are not believed to be in the U.S. — were indicted on charges of spying and attempting to recruit people already living in the United States, including employees of major corporations and women connected to a major university. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tuesday denied the charges, saying the U.S. was resorting to "anti-Russian campaigning.'' He said "no evidence which would support such information has been presented. It seems that the American authorities have once again decided to resort to a favorite practice of unwinding espionage.'' Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met Tuesday with John Tefft, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, to discuss "bilateral" issues, the ministry said. According to a U.S. Justice Department complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, the defendants were tasked by Russian authorities "to gather intelligence on, among other subjects, potential United States sanctions against Russian banks and the United States' efforts to develop alternative energy resources.'' Posing as an employee of the Russian bank Vnesheconombank, Buryakov broke U.S. law by not informing officials that he was in the country as a covert Russian intelligence operative, the complaint said. Federal prosecutors said Sporyshev, 40, worked as a Russian trade representative from November 2010 to November 2014, while Podobnyy, 27, was an attache to Russia's mission to the United Nations from December 2012 to September 2013. Prosecutors said U.S. authorities gathered physical evidence and electronic data from many meetings, including several in which Buryakov met with an FBI agent posing as a wealthy investor intending to develop casinos in Russia. Between March 2012 and mid-September 2014, the FBI observed Buryakov and Sporyshev meeting 48 times in outdoor settings, the complaint said. Several of the meetings "involved Buryakov passing a bag, magazine or slip of paper to Sporyshev." The investigation followed leads from a 2010 case resulting in the arrest of 10 covert agents working in the United States. All 10 pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan to conspiracy charges and were extradited as part of a spy swap for four people convicted of betraying Moscow to the West. The three Russian suspects each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Attorney General Eric Holder said the U.S. is committed "to combating attempts by covert agents to illegally gather intelligence and recruit spies within the United States." More than 20 years after the end of the Cold War, Russian spies continue to work in the U.S. and are a direct threat to U.S. national security, Justice Department officials said.
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 НТВ.ru |
«Маразм крепчает»: Иванов раскритиковал идею Киева о признании РФ «агрессором»
НТВ.ru Глава администрации президента России Сергей Иванов назвал «маразмом» принятое Верховной радой решение о признании РФ «страной-агрессором». 2365. Поделиться ссылкой на выделенное. Twitter · Facebook · Вконтакте · Google+. Прямая ссылка:. Сергей Иванов: США используют Украину для своих целейBFM.Ru Маразм крепчал: Ианова возмутило заявление Рады о том, что Россия является страной-агрессором:Московский комсомолец Иванов считает, что шансы на мирное разрешение конфликта на Украине пока естьГазета.Ru Корреспондент.net -Полит.ру -Комсомольская правда Все похожие статьи: 93 » |
 Sydney Morning Herald |
New Greek government questions plans for more EU sanctions of Russia
Sydney Morning Herald Brussels: Greece's new Syriza-led government questioned moves to impose more sanctions onRussia, adding a foreign-policy angle to its challenge to the status quo in Europe. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' government said it opposed a European Union ... Tough EU Statement on Russia Didn't Have Greek Consent, Officials SayWall Street Journal Greece objects to EU call for more Russia sanctionsTelegraph.co.uk How Syriza's Win Could Change EU Policy On RussiaRadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Bloomberg -Financial Times -Yahoo News all 7,111 news articles » |
 CNN |
Russia's act of war against the United States
Hot Air Just yesterday, Obama's baseless assertion that America is not entering into a new Cold War with Russia was shown to be little more than aspiration when NATO officials blamed Russia for a recent rocket attack on a Ukrainian city and a Russian spy ring ... Why the alleged Russian spy ring mattersCNN Russia's 'incompetent' spies get nabbed in New York, but here's why it doesn't ...PRI Russia Condemns Arrest of Nationals in US over “Spying” ChargesteleSUR English The Daily Progress all 40 news articles » |
 Forbes |
Russia To Retaliate If Bank's Given SWIFT Kick
Forbes In September, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said it was unlikely SWIFT would punish Russian banks in any way. Regardless, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that if SWIFT limited Russian banks on its system, ... PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - Jan 28Reuters Russian PM vows 'unrestricted' response if banned from SWIFT payment systemRT Russia warns of 'unrestricted reaction' to possible SWIFT banwww.worldbulletin.net all 20 news articles » |
After decades of Russian dominance, Belarus reclaims its language by Katerina Barushka in Minsk
In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, activists tell Katerina Barushka that aspects of Belarusian identity – especially language – are making a comeback
- Пасля дзесяцігоддзяў расійскайга дамінавання, Беларусь пачынае вяртаць сваю мову
- После десятилетий господства российской культуры жители Беларуси снова начинают говорить на родном языке
Gallery Y is one of the very few alternative cafes in the Belarusian capital Minsk, and every Monday evening it is packed with around 200 people of all trades and ages. They sit on the floor or stand for three hours to participate in one of the most popular public events in the city – a Belarusian language class.
Belarus’ president, Alexander Lukashenko, who is widely criticised for his authoritarian rule, once said “nothing significant can be expressed” in Belarusian. He played a key role in stigmatising the language in favour of Russian, and in the years that followed, Belarusian became the language of the marginalised political opposition.
No more than 10% of Belarusians say they communicate in Belarusian in their day-to-day lives
It’s hard to be distinct when you are constantly reminded your nation is Russia’s younger brother, and anything Belarusian is boring
We aim at making the Belarusian language and culture look cool again
Authorities have allowed such campaigns to exist and promote Belarusian, but the organisers of language classes have had to tread carefully
People long for their national identity, to be different, to be proud of who they are
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Pro-Russian rebels have said that they pushed Ukrainian government troops out of two districts on the outskirts of their main stronghold Donetsk, and that their aim was to expand their control to the entire region.
Putin in the dock by Telegraph View
Telegraph View: The Alexander Litvinenko inquest is a reminder of Russia's refusal to play by the rules of civilised behaviour
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