The Economist: As America and Russia Talk, Ukraine Fights

Conflict in eastern Ukraine was frozen for two years but has “flared up with renewed force” soon after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, presidents of the United States and Russia, spoke by telephone, reports the Economist. “Following the flare-up, the American ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors the ceasefire, blamed ‘combined Russian-separatist forces’ for starting the attacks.” Each side has its own interpretation of a ceasefire agreement in place for the past year: Ukraine wants to reassert control over its eastern region and Russia wants influence, including Donbas declared an autonomous region with an open border. The Economist observes that the United States offered a delayed and weak response to reports of renewed fighting in Ukraine and new charges against opposition leader Alexei Navalny who had planned to enter the presidential election against Putin. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, did issue a strong statement on Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Ukraine and many others are disturbed by suggestions that sanctions could be lifted against Russia. – YaleGlobal