Section: The Guardian (The United Kingdom)
How annexing Crimea allowed Putin to claim he had made Russia great again | Sophie Pinkham
The show of force in Ukraine was played as Russia’s greatest moment since the second world war. But it’s a risky strategyMuch of the current tension between Russia and the west is a consequence of Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine, three years ago this week. In truth, however, that deployment was a reaction...
Russia strikes provocative note for Eurovision in Ukraine
Moscow ends speculation about Kiev song contest boycott, naming Yuliya Samoylova who sang in Crimea after annexationRussia has announced its musical entry for the Eurovision song contest, ending speculation that it might boycott the competition, which this year is being held in Ukraine.State TV announced on Sunday that Yuliya Samoylova, who uses...
Misha Mengelberg obituary
One of the most creative jazz pianists to emerge in the first phase of Europe’s breakaway from American styles in the 1960sIn his last years the Dutch pianist, composer and improviser Misha Mengelberg, who has died aged 81, would sometimes whistle and sing in conversation with visiting friends when advancing Alzheimer’s disease made...
UK must stand up to Trump over sanctions on Russia, say MPs
Any moves by the US to ease pressure on Putin over Ukraine should be challenged, says foreign affairs committee The UK must brace itself to stage “uncomfortable conversations” with its closest ally, the United States, to ensure the west maintains a principled stance on sanctions against Russia, the all-party foreign affairs select committee has...
Meet Kiev’s alt-designers, priced out of Ukrainian fashion week
The so-called ‘new east’ is home to the most talked about creatives in the industry. So why weren’t they showing in Kiev last month?Hanging from the snow-covered roof of Lesnoy fleamarket in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev is a fur coat, identical to that seen on the catwalk of trend-setting label Vetements in Paris in January....
Bitter Harvest review – timely but uneven Ukrainian famine drama
Despite honourable intentions, this film addressing the Stalin-inflicted 1932-33 genocide in Ukraine is at times embarrassingly badAt least Bitter Harvest’s release date is relatively timely, given the recent focus in the news on Russia’s brutally aggressive, expansive ambitions. Putin may be accused of killing, but he’s got...
Austria grants US request to extradite Ukrainian mogul Dmytro Firtash
Vienna court overturns a previous decision to reject extradition on the grounds it was politically motivatedAn Austrian court has granted a US request to extradite Ukrainian mogul Dmytro Firtash over bribery allegations.On Tuesday, the court in Vienna overturned a previous Austrian court decision to reject the extradition request on the grounds...
Ukraine ambassador attacks Trump aides’ secret peace plan
Under deal reportedly discussed by allies of US president and Ukrainian politician Russian sanctions would be liftedA secret attempt to persuade Donald Trump to strike a deal that would involve Moscow keeping Crimea in return for ensuring peace in eastern Ukraine must be seen off, the Ukrainian ambassador to London has said.The New York Times...
Ukraine’s frontline dentists: ‘This is how I serve my country’
Volunteers of Ukrop Dental are helping military personnel and civilians in region where aid is woefully lackingIn an abandoned building on the road to no-man’s land, Ukraine’s frontline dentists are hard at work. These men and women have swapped the safety of their sterilised clinics across the country to join the fight against...
Brut force: the winery in the middle of a war zone
The chaos of eastern Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on this Soviet-era winery, which once supplied more than half the countryYou would not know from Yuri’s calm demeanour, as he describes the bubbles rising in his champagne flute, that that we are only a few miles from the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Related: Violence flares in war-weary...
