January 1, 2009
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Nothing changes, it seems. Just like 2008, 2009 promises to bring yet more Russian sabre-rattling and European fears about the continent’s long-term energy security. Also time to welcome in the Czech EU presidency. With the Czech Republic currently being run … Continue reading
September 10, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Better luck next time, Ukraine. One of these days the EU powers that be are going to realise that when you’ve got countries torn between a European and non-European identity, to keep on telling them “sorry, you’re not European enough … Continue reading
September 4, 2008
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
With the East/West standoff spreading to Ukraine, there’s an obvious solution to that country’s ills… Continue reading
August 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
What way forward after the Georgia crisis? Continue reading
April 4, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
The NATO summit is the perfect illustration of the fraught relations of Russia and the West, but it’s also just a sideshow… Continue reading
March 4, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on One day since Medvedev’s election…
…and Russia’s energy blackmail steps up once again, with Ukraine’s gas supplies being cut by a quarter by Gazprom. The energy giant headed by, erm… one Dmitry Medvedev. Yay!
February 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Shutting down an entire university due to breaches of fire regulations would sound a little harsh at the best of times. When the university in question is St Petersburg’s European University, however, suspicions are naturally raised – not least thanks … Continue reading
February 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
My big worry over Gazprom boss Dmitry Medvedev becoming president of Russia is his use of the country’s gas supplies as political weapons. Continue reading
August 13, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
We all remember the Orange Revolution of late 2004. Regular readers will know that since liveblogging the thing, I’ve occasionally returned to the complex and heated world of Ukranian politics to try and work out just what the hell’s going … Continue reading
January 2, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
You can be fairly sure that Russian claims that Ukraine is “stealing Europe’s gas” are bollocks, and that this is indeed “the Putin regime’s answer to the Orange Revolution”. This little spat could, however, severely affect large chunks of Europe … Continue reading
October 6, 2005
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Well, after Turkey and Croatia, now it looks like Brussels is turning its attention to Ukraine, with Orange Revolution head Victor Yuschenko’s Prime Minister (no, not the fit one, she’s gone – the new one…) heading off for talks in … Continue reading
March 31, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Russian revolts – March madness?
It’s all going a bit mental in the former Soviet Union, in case you hadn’t noticed. Siberian Light’s weekly news roundup has some concerning and potentially important stories which the western media certainly doesn’t seem to have picked up on … Continue reading
March 4, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Ukrainian implications
Berlin Sprouts has a nice overview of some potential post-Orange Revolution developments on Europe’s easternmost fringe, three and a bit months after it all kicked off in Kiev, which nicely complements this Washington Times piece. Ultima Thule, meanwhile, has some … Continue reading
January 20, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Yuschenko inauguration confirmed for Sunday
Announced on the day Bush’s second term officially begins – how rare! Russia’s Vladimir Putin also seems to be trying to patch up relations, releasing a congratulatory message to the guy he was opposing to the extent of sending in … Continue reading