Poroshenko interview in NZZ; agreement to withdraw heavy weapons from Minsk...
Developing Vladimir Putin acting, through his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, reached an agreement in Berlin this week under which Russian “separatists” in eastern Ukraine would withdraw heavy weapons...
View ArticleNegotiating with terrorists: Merkel’s proposal for a broad economic zone with...
See “Ukraine-Krise: Bundesregierung lockt Russland mit Handelszone; Zur Belohnung gäbe es eine Wirtschaftskooperation: Die Bundesregierung hat laut Medienbericht dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir...
View ArticlePutin attacks Mariupol, may seek land corridor to Crimea
Developing See (1) Julia Smirnova, “Mariupol wäre für die Separatisten wertvollster Ort; Die Angriffe auf Mariupol markieren eine neue Eskalation des Kriegs in der Ostukraine. Greifen die prorussischen...
View ArticleLeftist victory in Greece threatens continuation of EU sanctions against Russia
Developing See (1) Julia Smirnova und Boris Kalnóky, “Mit Tspiras hat Russland einen neuen Verbündeten; Die neue griechische Regierung verfügt über bemerkenswert enge Kontakte nach Moskau; Premier...
View ArticlePutin’s disappearing act —- and rifts within the Kremlin
Latest and best analyses of Putin’s disappearing act Vladimir Putin has not made a public appearance since March 5. Several television and news reports which purported to show him meeting with figures...
View ArticleThe 70th anniversary of the unconditonal surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945
Detveloping On May 8, 1945 the Allied Powers accepted the unconditional surrender of Germany in a ceremony performed in Berlin. Because of the hour, it was May 9 in Moscow, which is why the Allied...
View ArticleObama-Putin meeting at UN: The resurgence of pacifism and appeasement toward...
See Julia Smirnova, “Die wundersame Rückkehr des Wladimir Putin In der New Yorker UN-Woche drängt Putin ins Zentrum der Weltbühne. Durch die aktive Rolle im Syrienkonflikt hofft der Kreml-Chef auf...
View ArticleThe last international lawyer, or so it seemed
It was a curious time, when the world fell apart and no one noticed. Ideas and institutions that men had died to defend no longer seemed important. The experience of two world wars in the 20th century...
View ArticleUkraine summit on October 2 with Putin in Paris: Remember who you are talking to
See Benoît Vitkine, “Un sommet sur l’Ukraine à Paris dans l’ombre de la Syrie, Le Monde, le 1 Octobre 2015 (à 10h53 – Mis à jour le 01.10.2015 à 16h16). On Friday, October 2, Francois Hollande, Angela...
View ArticleAfter the Ukraine Summit in Paris: What, if anything, was achieved?
Update and Analysis See (1) Stefan Braun (Berlin) und Christian Wernicke (Paris), “Ukraine-Gipfel in Paris: Hollande und Merkel ringen mit Putin; Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und Frankreichs Staatspräsident...
View ArticleThinking clearly about Putin and Syria
Barack Obama, John Kerry and other Western leaders should always bear in mind wiho Vladimir Putin is, and what he has done in the last four years with respect to Syria, the Crimea, the eastern Ukraine,...
View ArticleUpdate on Putin and Syria
Update: Cut-off of provision of electricity to the Crimea, and the downing of a Russian plane by Turkey on November 24, 2015 Two events have now pushed relations with Putin to a dangerous edge. The...
View ArticlePresident-elect Maurício Macrí: Democracy in Latin America gets a boost from...
With the election of Marício Macrí in Argentina, defeating the candidate of the ruling party of Cristina Kirchner, a strong new voice for democracy throughout the hemisphere may be entering the scene....
View ArticleAs Kerry travels to Moscow, Putin thwarts investigation into assassination of...
As John Kerry travels to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss Syria and the Ukraine, Putin’s cover-up “investigation” into those responsible for Boris Nemtsov’s assassination on February 27,...
View ArticleREPRISE: The last international lawyer, or so it seemed
A fitting commentary on 2015 follows: Originally published on September 27, 2015 THE LAST INTERNATIONAL LAWYER, OR SO IT SEEMED It was a curious time, when the world fell apart and no one noticed....
View Article2016: Fateful time for a conversation about international law
Does any of this matter? Do we care any more about whether one country invades another by military force? Does it matter how we respond? It has been 30 years, more or less, since there...
View ArticleRemembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today is Martin Luther King day in the United States, a national holiday. It is a good moment to remember the man, his message, and his life of passion dedicated to securing human rights and...
View ArticleSyria: Russian victory, American defeat
See Stefan Kornelius, “Syrien: Wo bleiben die USA?,” Sueddeutsche Zeitung, 7. Februar 2016 (22:05 Uhr). “Ein offener Staaten-Krieg mit Syrien im Zentrum steht kurz bevor. Die Amerikaner schauen...
View ArticleChessmaster Putin allows humanitarian convoys to distract attention from air...
Russia seems to be complying with part of the sketchy “Cessation of Hostilities agreement in Munich on February 12, 2016, by allowing humanitarian aid convoys to enter areas that have been surrounded...
View ArticleThe ugly face of America: Donald Trump and his supporters
Finally, a leading political figure in the United States, Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for the presidency in 2012, stood up and denounced Donal Trump, the leading Republican candidate...
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