The main difference between Ukraine and Russia is that Ukrainians have become citizens of their own country, while Russians remain subjects of their ruler.
Donetsk
What Brexit Looks Like to the Rest of Europe
A colleague from Poland advised his British-born wife to get a Polish passport. It was high time to make some coffee.
A Dangerous Moment for Ukraine’s Fragile Ceasefire
What we talk about when we talk about the Minsk peace agreement.
Vladimir Putin Is Not Planning Annexation of Ukraine Enclaves, But Diplomacy Is Flailing
The problem with the Minsk agreement is that Russia plays a double role — as a disinterested observer on paper and an active party to the conflict in the field.
Kremlin TV
Putin takes perverse pride in revealing the details of the secret mission to bring Crimea “home.” He gloats in the big lie and invites Russians to join him.
Debaltseve Debacle Puts Ukraine’s Leader in Jeopardy. That Suits Vladimir Putin Just Fine.
If another government-held city falls, say the port of Mariupol, Petro Poroshenko will have to be just as concerned about the home front as the front line.
Putin Wins Again
Vladimir Putin determines who and what crosses the border into Ukraine until he is satisfied the Kiev government has genuflected deeply enough.
From the Battlefront: A Ukrainian Tank Commander’s Act of Mercy
“We just had to push a button in our tank, and all that would have been left of them would have been a memory of our sinful world,” Alexei Chaban wrote. “We didn’t kill them. We let them go.”
Ukraine’s Ceasefire Has Become a Farce, with Vladimir Putin the Author
Russia isn’t formally a party to the conflict but a concerned neighbor. The de facto double role of warmonger and peacemaker puts all the cards in Putin’s hands.
The Madness of Mariupol
“The city was vulnerable. We didn’t have enough tanks and artillery to hold back the aggressors,” Mayor Khotlubei says. “Now we’re an impregnable fortress.”