Section: European Voice (EU)
Legality of referendum challenged
As his snap referendum on financial bailout terms approaches, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faces a rising chorus of criticism that the plebiscite does not conform to basic democratic rules. The arguments range from skepticism over the wording of the referendum and the short timeframe in which it is being held to a direct legal attack on...
Ukraine’s language war
The other day I took part in a Ukrainian talk show called “Freedom of Speech.” The format is an unusual one: Six local experts with credentials in the social sciences or in journalism sit three to a table, four special guests sit two to a table, two more surprise special guests arrive during the show and stand and perorate, and then of course...
Ukraine-Russia gas conflict flares
Ukraine has stopped buying Russian natural gas and Russia halted shipments to Ukraine the two sides said in tit-for-tat comments Wednesday, following the expiration of an interim agreement on gas supplies and prices with Russia’s Gazprom. Gazprom said it cut off gas supplies to Ukraine because Kiev has not paid its bills. “Gazprom will not...
EU aims to head off Ukraine-Russia gas war
Ukraine and Russia may be in a state of quasi-war, but Ukraine is still one of Russia’s most important gas customers, and the shape of that commercial relationship is being hammered out in EU-brokered talks in Vienna on Tuesday. This is the first political-level meeting between the three parties since Russia and Ukraine struck a temporary...
Does Kerry want an Iran deal too much?
As he meets with Iranian officials in search of a nuclear deal in the coming days, John Kerry may sense another presence in Vienna’s Palais Coburg hotel: his legacy. Over his 30-year political career, Kerry has long been knocked for delivering more talk than results. Achieving a nuclear deal he first began pursuing even before he became...
Boehner: U.S. committed to countering Russia
Speaker John Boehner completed a three-day tour of Lithuania on Monday, during which the Ohio Republican stressed the nation’s commitment to countering Russia’s growing strength and political influence. The trip comes as Russia has flexed its muscles by annexing Crimea and tightly controlling access to energy supplies. But Boehner...
The Bulwark’s evacuation mission
The path the British warship HMS Bulwark is taking around the Mediterranean charts a map of European indecision when it comes to dealing with its migration crisis. The Bulwark is 19,560 tonnes of sheer hell, or sheer help, depending on who you are. She boasts a flight deck large enough for two to three helicopters, a dock for four landing craft,...
Obama bounces back
There was shouting in the hallway outside the Oval Office when the decision came down — but most people couldn’t tell at first whether it was happy or distraught. President Barack Obama was in the Oval Office getting his daily briefing. Senior aides were in a meeting about trade, thinking that the big news of the day was going to be the...
In defense of Ukraine
Unless Europe and the United States act swiftly, the situation in Ukraine is about to get worse — possibly a lot worse. The Minsk II agreement that was supposed to stabilize the conflict and provide a path forward to political settlement is languishing as a result of repeated violations and unenforceable terms. Any hope Vladimir Putin had of...
France fills the American arms void
The Dassault Rafale, France’s premier fighter jet, headlined the International Paris Air Show last week, showing off its state-of-the art maneuvers before a crowd of 300,000 defense industry leaders. While the air show ostensibly exhibited advances in aviation technology, France also brandished the Rafale as the centerpiece of major new...
