Are Sanctions an Answer?

Appeals for targeted sanctions against Ukrainian officials responsible for the violent crackdown of peaceful demonstrations and the use of force and persecution against journalists and protesters figure high in the messages of Ukrainian opposition, civil society and protesters of EuroMaidan to the West, in particular to the U.S. and to the EU. Apart from Yanukovych, his family members and state officials, the protesters call on the West to include business elites, so called oligarchs, supporting Yanukovych’s regime in the list of sanctioned individuals.

Dangerous Liaisons

So what are the December 17 deals with Russia? A victory or a defeat?

I very much doubt the Ukrainian landscape is going to look the same a year from now

Fundamentally, EuroMaidan represents a completely different form of social and political organization from Putin’s managed democracy

Mr. Putin may have won a victory in the geopolitical campaign that he is waging for Ukraine. It was, however, one battle, not the war

The European Union is not prepared to get into a bidding war with Russia for Ukraine. But it appears that the attraction of European living standards, rule of law and democracy remain strong with Ukrainians, particularly the young. Mr. Putin's Russia offers nothing that can compete with that.

What Happened to Ukraine?

The EU should apply a softer and wiser approach to Ukrainian society in terms of freedom of movement. No Ukrainian citizen should feel a poor cousin in EU countries

Janusz Bugajski: Washington needs to send a strong message to Putin not to interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs or risk repercussions

Thus far the U.S. reaction to the Ukrainian upheaval has been subdued, as the Obama administration evidently fears alienating Russia, which it needs to pursue its Middle East policies. It is time for the White House to specify its options, as Ukraine stands on the brink of outright conflict

The West’s Painful Dilemmas

The brutal truth is that public opinion in many Western countries cares little for Ukraine – and certainly not enough to risk an open confrontation with Moscow

Tough Russia and Doubtful Europe

Western diplomats have expressed “concern” over the situation in Ukraine. They “invite participants in the conflict to negotiate” but have hesitated to state a clear stance. This is not without reason

French Diplomacy: Miseries Without Splendor

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has obviously not been to the Maidan in Kyiv – nor is he planning on a visit, unlike German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle or the Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. Both have traveled to Ukraine for meetings and made subsequent declarations.

Ukrainian leaders are caught into their own trap

Ukrainian leadership needs a dialog with the oppositional forces, transparent decisions, which demonstrate convincingly that the Ukrainians themselves are the main focus of the political leadership.