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From Putin, a New Tune on Ukraine?
Stephen Sestanovich, The Wall Street Journal
Putin’s annual question-and-answer session offered insights into his intentions in Ukraine, particularly on such issues as the status of the separatist eastern regions and the future of Russian support for the rebels.
Putin Wants Peaceful Co-existence With the West
Fyodor Lukyanov, Global Affairs
Putin’s comments during his annual question-and-answer session, including those regarding the conflict in Ukraine and relations with the West, were consistent with his past policy statements. This indicates that he would like to maintain the status quo in Russia’s foreign policy. Current relations between Russia and the West indicate a shift since the Cold War era, when the two countries were the main two world powers. In the current environment, each side is attempting to pursue its interests in a more complicated, multilateral world.
Where Poles and Russians Meet, Ideals and Profits Clash
Rick Lyman, The New York Times
While tensions have cropped up between the governments of Russia and Poland, ties between people from the two countries remain close in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Some Polish business owners in border towns are reluctant to serve Russians due to the crisis in Ukraine, but for many, Russians from Kaliningrad provide a valuable source of income.
Putin Bolsters His Forces Near Ukraine, U.S. Says
Michael R. Gordon, The New York Times
There has been a lull in fighting in eastern Ukraine as the Minsk II agreement tentatively holds, but the U.S. says Russia has continued to build up forces along the Ukrainian border, indicating that the conflict could escalate once again. The U.S. says Russia has amassed the largest stockpile of air defense equipment in eastern Ukraine since August 2014. Ukraine and the West fear the buildup indicates closer collaboration between separatists and the Russian military.
Russia’s Master Plan to Break the Trans-Atlantic Alliance
Vladimir Socor, The Wall Street Journal
The Minsk II agreement signed on February 12 stipulated that the Russian-backed “republics” in Ukraine be allowed to participate in negotiations on the country’s new constitution, which could make it more difficult for Ukraine to integrate itself with Europe. The war in eastern Ukraine has the potential to become a large frozen conflict, and effective Western support, including military aid, is needed to prevent this.
This week's roundup was compiled by Seraphima Mixon, Liza Layer and Caitlin Thompson.
