Section: News & Summaries

      Should Ukraine Forget Its History?
      Dec16

      Should Ukraine Forget Its History?

      On November 25, 2010, while on a state visit to Kyiv, Israel’s President Shimon Peres stated that, “If Ukrainians were to ask me for advice, I would say: forget history.” Coming from the president of a country steeped in history, the comment was at first glance bizarre. Directed at a country embroiled in seemingly endless...

      Thank You, George!
      Dec14

      Thank You, George!

      In his 2011 essay, “My Philanthropy,” George Soros described his approach to charitable giving. “I relish confronting harsh reality, and I am drawn to tackling seemingly insoluble problems,” he wrote. Indeed, it is with a consistent determination, generosity, and unwavering faith in Ukraine’s potential that Soros...

      US, Russia to discuss Assad’s future

      US Secretary of State John Kerry will try to reach agreement with Russia over the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any political transition. ||| Paris – US Secretary of State John Kerry will use talks in Moscow on Tuesday to try to narrow differences with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the role of Syrian President Bashar...

      Memo to Presidential Candidates: The Putin Problem Isn’t Going Away
      Dec14

      Memo to Presidential Candidates: The Putin Problem Isn’t Going Away

      Foreign-policy challenges will keep the next commander-in-chief up late. Analysts focus on the threat that Islamic State poses to the United States and its allies, but the Putin problem is unlikely to fade. As the candidates gear up for the next round of debates—slated for December 15 and 19—it’s time to take stock of the threat the Russian...

      Battle for Donetsk Airport: Haunting Documentary Captures Ukrainian Resilience
      Dec14

      Battle for Donetsk Airport: Haunting Documentary Captures Ukrainian Resilience

      A haunting message from a Ukrainian soldier closes “Airport Donetsk,” a documentary about the 200-day siege that ended in January 2015.”I can’t sleep at all,” said the downcast survivor. “I see them…I see my guys in my dreams.”He was one of a dozen Ukrainians and Russians interviewed for this film...

      Watch: Brawl in Ukraine parliament

      A fight erupted between dozens of lawmakers in Ukraine’s parliament on Friday after an MP picked up Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. …read more Source:...

      Time names Merkel Person of the Year

      German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named “Person of the Year 2015” by Time magazine. ||| Time magazine on Wednesday named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its “Person of the Year 2015,” hailing her leadership for navigating debt and refugee crises that threatened to tear the European Union apart. “For asking more of her country than most...

      Russian Military and Mercenaries Directly Implicated in Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners
      Dec09

      Russian Military and Mercenaries Directly Implicated in Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners

      Ukrainian human rights activists believe that over 87 percent of Ukrainian soldiers and half the civilians who have been taken prisoner by Kremlin-backed, pro-Russian militants in the Donbas have been subjected to torture or ill treatment. Additionally, in over 40 percent of the so-called “interrogations,” key roles were played by...

      Times names Merkel Person of the Year

      German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named “Person of the Year 2015” by Times magazine. ||| Time magazine on Wednesday named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its “Person of the Year 2015,” hailing her leadership for navigating debt and refugee crises that threatened to tear the European Union apart.“For asking more of her country than most...

      Australia and Kazakhstan: a Steppe Forward for Bilateral Ties
      Dec09

      Australia and Kazakhstan: a Steppe Forward for Bilateral Ties

      Central Asia does not fit comfortably in Europe or the Middle East and can present a challenge for Australian policymakers. However its largest and wealthiest state presents an interesting avenue for Canberra to engage more closely with the region. Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country and home to over seventeen million people,...