Mediaboss Marketing

Mr. Price added that the foreign ministers would also address the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, as well as issues including human rights, food security and gender equality.

Joining the ministers from the Group of 7 countries the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada in London will be representatives from Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei.

Their attendance reflects a growing interest on the part of western nations to collaborate more closely with fellow democracies around the world as part of the broader competition with China and other countries exporting authoritarian values, including Russia.

Officials from those nations will join ones from the Group of 7 for a discussion on Wednesday about open societies, including media freedom and combating disinformation, Ms. Barks-Ruggles added. Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will join sessions on how to ensure a sustainable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

During his stay in London from Monday to Wednesday, Mr. Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain and his foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, and take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at St. Pauls Cathedral honoring soldiers killed in World War II.

Even as Biden administration officials have stressed their support for Ukraines government, they have also pressured Kyiv to complete reforms within the countrys notoriously corrupt political system. The State Department said that would be a priority for Mr. Blinken, and that progress in that area is key to securing Ukraines democratic institutions, economic prosperity and Euro-Atlantic future.

Briefing reporters on Thursday, Mr. Price said that the United States was deeply concerned by a recent move by Ukrainian cabinet ministers to replace the management of the countrys leading energy company, Naftogaz. Mr. Price called the actions just the latest example of ignoring best practices and putting Ukraines hard-fought economic progress at risk.

Go here to read the rest:
Blinken Will Visit Ukraine in Show of Support Against Russia - The New York Times

A general view of the deserted town of Pripyat, some 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from the Chernobyl ... [+] nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

May 1 was one of the biggest holidays in the Soviet calendarthe worker's festival. In 1986, celebrations across the Soviet Union were overshadowed by what had happened just days before: the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The Soviet leadership's unsure response was to cost lives and, arguably, hasten the end of the USSR itself.

On the night of 25-26 April, there was an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, in what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the 15 constituent republics of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The explosion released large amounts of deadly radioactive material that then dispersed far beyond the disaster zone itself.

The Kremlin Tried To Cover Up Chernobyl Disaster

The Soviet authorities initially attempted to cover up the catastrophe. It was not until April 27 that the 30,000 inhabitants of the nearby town of Pripyat were moved from their homes. But the scale of the danger was such that it could not be kept quiet. Within days, unusually and worryingly high levels of radiation had been detected in Scandinavia. The secret could be kept no more.

The Kremlin tried still to remain silentbut their efforts were in vain. On April 29, the London Times front pageciting reports from Stockholm, Swedenwarned of a "Huge nuclear leak At Soviet plant."

Western correspondents in Moscow soon realized what was unfolding beyond the confines of the Soviet capital. The Soviet authorities had to respondhowever reluctantly. "They were deliberately trying to obscure what was going on," Philip Taubman, then in Moscow as a correspondent for the New York Times, told me in an interview for my book, Assignment Moscow: Reporting on Russia from Lenin to Putin.

In fact the Soviet leadership was now caught in a trap at least partly of its own making. Under the reform programmeknown as "perestroika", or "reconstruction"that had been launched by Mikhail Gorbachev when he had become Soviet leader the previous year, journalists were encouraged to be frank about the shortcomings of the planned communist economy.

"Angry At The Lack Of Candor"

This extended to questioning official statements in a way that was unprecedented in a society where the Communist party controlled the media. Taubman remembered a news conference on Chernobyl as one of the first times he saw Soviet reporters "angry at the lack of candor" in official statements.

FILE - In this photo taken May 1, 1986 in Ukraine's capital Kiev, people rally to celebrate the May ... [+] Day a few days after the deadly explosion on the 4th unit in Chernobyl nuclear power plant. (AP Photo)

May Day Parades Go Ahead

With hindsight, one of the most troubling aspects of the initial cover up was the Moscow authorities insistence that the May Day parades in Kyiv go ahead as normalto try to convince people that nothing was wrong. Those celebrating the holiday in the streets put themselves at risk from radiation.

But this kind of callousness had a price. It undermined confidence in the authorities' ability to lead. One of the most striking subsequent accounts of the disaster can be found in the numerous interviews conducted by the Nobel prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich for her book, Chernobyl Prayer (also translated as Voices from Chernobyl).

Alexievich's work was one of the sources used by creators of the HBO series about the disaster, Chernobyl. "It really impressed me," the author said of the TV dramatization in a 2019 interview with RFE/RL.

ProtestAnd The End Of The Soviet System

"Chernobyl unleashed a mass protest movement against the authorities," wrote the Harvard historian, Serhii Plokhy, in his 2014 book, The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union itself collapsed in 1991. The explosion in the reactor was a crack in the USSR that not only cost countless livesthe nature and delayed effects of radiation mean that the true death toll may never be knownbut also contributed to the demise of a political system.

Read the original here:
How The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Shaped Russia And Ukraines Modern History - Forbes

One of the subtlest tools in the diplomatic kit is the concept of strategic ambiguity. In the right circumstances, it can achieve more foreign-policy goals than strategic clarity, even preventing war. In the wrong situation, ambiguity can backfire and cause disaster. The question is which context currently applies to the standoffs in Ukraine and the Taiwan Strait.

In their own ways, China under President Xi Jinping and Russia under President Vladimir Putin have deftly been keeping their adversaries in check with deliberate ambiguity. By contrast, the West, from the U.S. to the European Union, has of late seemed ambiguous more by default than design. This must change.

Consider Putin. Having just rattled his sabers again near Ukraine, hes now withdrawing his forces from that countrys borders. His purpose this time, it appears, was only to remind Kiev and the West that he alone controls the pace of conflictescalation (and de-escalation) in the region, from Belarus to Georgia.

In his recent state address, Putinwarned the West not to cross any red lines,or it would suffer his asymmetric ferocity. Most tellingly, he added that we ourselves will determine where those red lines are. Thats strategic ambiguity: We might strike you, but we wont tell you when or why, because we want you Kiev and the West to keep guessing.

More from

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, by contrast, obviously yearns for strategic clarity, such as firm assurances from the West that it would defend Ukraine. Better yet, as he said this month, hed like to take the next step toward membership in NATO, which would be the ultimate deterrence against Russia.

But any move toward NATO membership would be exactly the kind of red line Putin was talking about. In that case, it would provoke, rather than deter, the very catastrophe that the U.S. and Europe are hoping to avoid: a full-scale invasion. That would force the West to decide whether or not to fight and lose lives for Ukraine, and above all whether it could even win that battle. So NATO, the U.S. and the European Union are remaining strategically ambiguous about how theyd respond to Russian belligerence.

Now consider the Taiwan Strait, arguably the archetype of successful strategic ambiguity. On paper the U.S. has always recognized only one China. But in 1979 it switched its diplomatic protocol from Taipei to Beijing, while also passing the Taiwan Relations Act. Masterfully, it says that any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means would be of grave concern to the United States.

This deliberate ambiguity about whether the U.S. would repel a mainland attack arguably kept the peace forfour decades. It forced the Chinese to fear a war with the American superpower. And it reminded Taipei that it didnt have a blank check to declare independence because the U.S. might not come to its aid.

The two examples show when strategic ambiguity works best. Its when the same message must simultaneously send different signals to two or more parties. In these examples, the West is telling, respectively, Moscow and Beijing not to attack, while reminding Kiev and Taipei not to provoke. The resulting limbo is meant to avert war.

But this only works as long as all sides feel that time is in their favor. China, for example, long felt it had to get militarily stronger before challenging the U.S. It also hoped to persuade the Taiwanese to reunify voluntarily, with growing economic cooperation and promises of political autonomy.

Both assumptions have changed. Beijing increasingly feels it could win a limited war against the U.S. And it fears that the islands population increasingly sees itself as distinct in recent polls, a record 83% identify as Taiwanese as opposed to Chinese. Xi is also aware that his betrayal of Hong Kongs autonomy has convinced the Taiwanese that peaceful reunification would never be in their favor.

Thats why a growing chorus in Washington is calling for replacing American strategic ambiguity in the Taiwan Strait with clarity. Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations,argues that the U.S. must make its willingness to defend Taiwan unambiguous to keep deterring China and prevent war. Maintaining ambiguity might instead scare Americas other allies in the region, notably Japan and South Korea, into looking after their own security by building their own nuclear weapons.

In eastern Europe, such a line of reasoning is less straightforward. NATO allies such as Poland or the Baltic republics are also paying attention to the Wests stance in Ukraine and similarly feel vulnerable toward Russia. But they wont start building their own nukes or seek alternative alliances. Moreover, if defending Taiwan is difficult, repelling a Russian attack on Ukraine is even harder. The West appears unsure how much its defense would be worth in lives.

Whats clear is that the choice between ambiguity and clarity is fraught with danger and a matter for the highest rung of statecraft. Its disconcerting when a U.S. president appears not to appreciate the concept of strategic ambiguity in 2001, George W. Bush stated bluntly that he would do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan. Its equally worrisome when a president fails to grasp the proper deployment of strategic clarity. In 2012 Barack Obama warned Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad not to cross the red line of using chemical weapons but then did nothing when Assad committed that atrocity the following year.

In East Asia, the case for switching from ambiguity to clarity is now strong. In eastern Europe, it remains weaker. But what worries me most is that the Wests ambiguity in both regions increasingly seems desultory rather than strategic the result of indecision as opposed topurpose.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

To contact the author of this story:Andreas Kluth at akluth1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:Nicole Torres at ntorres51@bloomberg.net

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

See the original post here:
The US and Europe Are Dithering on Conflicts in Ukraine and Taiwan - Bloomberg

(CNN)

Federal agents raided the apartment and office of former President Donald Trumps longtime attorney Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday, an extraordinary move in the Justice Departments ongoing criminal probe.

The shocking development is part of the two-year investigation into Giulianis political activities in Ukraine. He hasnt been charged and denies all wrongdoing.

Heres a breakdown of some of the key questions surrounding the investigation.

Giuliani is wrapped up in a few ongoing investigations, and theyre all tied to his pro-Trump political activities in Ukraine, where he focused much of his attention in 2019 and 2020.

CNN has reported that investigators want to know if Giuliani acted as an illegal lobbyist on behalf of any Ukrainian officials. He urged Trump to take certain actions regarding Ukraine like firing the respected US ambassador and prosecutors want to know if this was done on behalf of, or in concert with, foreign officials. That could be a violation of laws regarding foreign agents.

His lawyer Robert Costello told CNN that the warrant described an investigation regarding foreign lobbying.

Prosecutors are also examining Giulianis potential business deals with disgraced Ukrainian officials, according to The New York Times. This reportedly involves some of the former officials Giuliani worked closely with in 2020 to peddle disinformation about then-candidate Joe Biden

There are also questions about a $500,000 payment Giuliani received from two Soviet-born associates who have been indicted in a related case. More on that angle in a moment.

Career prosecutors wanted a search warrant against Giuliani last year, but they were rebuffed by senior Trump appointees at the Justice Department, both before and after the 2020 presidential election, according to reporting from CNN and The New York Times.

There were reportedly concerns that the public actions against Giuliani would be too close to the election, and there were also some doubts that there was enough evidence to justify such an aggressive move against an attorney and the former attorney to the President, nonetheless.

Sensitive decisions like these require approval by the highest levels of the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland took over in March, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco was confirmed by the Senate just last week. Its not clear yet which official signed off on what was executed on Wednesday, or if it was approved before they came into office.

This could be really bad for Trump, or have little impact at all. But its definitely not a good thing.

At the least, the news reminds the American people about Giulianis brazen dealings in Ukraine, where he worked with a Russian agent to smear Biden. This was done on Trumps behalf and was aligned with Moscows own disinformation efforts against Biden.

To state the obvious things could get very dicey for the former President if investigators found anything in the raids that implicates him in a federal crime. But thats the most extreme scenario.

A more likely outcome is that prosecutors are building a case against Giuliani that touches on his dealings with Trump. That could further tarnish Trumps legacy and vindicate Democrats and the few Republicans who said Trumps first impeachment over Ukraine was warranted.

Investigators are clearly looking into Giulianis role leading a cadre of Trump supporters who worked together in 2019 and 2020 to spread pro-Trump and anti-Biden disinformation often pushing the same conspiracies that were also being promoted by the Russian government and its operatives.

Giulianis lawyer told CNN that the warrant sought communications between Giuliani and right-wing columnist John Solomon, among other individuals.

CNN also reported that federal agents also executed a related search warrant at the home of attorney Victoria Toensing, taking her cell phone but not searching the house itself. A spokesman for Toensing said she fully cooperated and was not a target of the probe.

Its impossible to talk about this without also bringing up Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two Soviet-born Americans who used their Ukrainian connections to assist Giulianis anti-Biden efforts.

They were indicted in 2019 in the midst of Trumps first impeachment, on several charges including illegally funneling foreign money to pro-Trump political groups. Theyve pleaded not guilty and they are set to go on trial later this year. But Parnas notably broke with Trump and Giuliani last year, and implicated both of them in the Ukraine quid-pro-quo and other schemes.

Throughout 2019, Solomon wrote columns for The Hill that were filled with many of the same pro-Trump and anti-Biden conspiracy theories that were being pushed by Giuliani and his Ukrainian allies. Phone records unearthed during impeachment proceedings in 2019 revealed that there were regular contacts between Solomon, Giuliani, Toensing, Parnas and other Trump allies while he published those columns.

Many legal experts said Wednesday that the raid represents a major escalation in the probe.

It delivers a strong and very concerning message to Mr. Giuliani, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, a CNN contributor, said on CNN earlier on Wednesday, adding that it represents a shift in an investigation from a quiet, covert stage to a more aggressive chapter.

Not only that, but investigators could find information that they werent even hunting for, that could help them ramp up the pressure on Giuliani or others who are targets of the inquiry.

It happens all the time that you get a search warrant of looking for evidence of Crime A, and you get evidence of crimes you never expected, CNN legal analyst Elie Honig said.

For Giuliani personally, the raid means more legal headaches are likely on the horizon.

This is a serious and tragic turn for the man who was rightfully known as Americas Mayor, said CNN senior political analyst John Avlon, who worked for Giuliani in New York City.

Read the rest here:
What's happening with the Rudy Giuliani raids and Ukraine investigation - CNN

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraines president on Monday unveiled a new nuclear waste repository at Chernobyl, the site of the worlds worst nuclear disaster that unfolded exactly 35 years ago.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Chernobyl together with Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and vowed to transform the exclusion zone, as Chernobyl is referred to, into a revival zone.

Ukraine is not alone, it has wide support (from its) partners, Zelenskyy said. Today the new repository has been put into operation and it is very important that today a license to maintain the new repository will be obtained.

The Ukrainian authorities decided to use the deserted exclusion zone around the Chernobyl power plant to build a place where Ukraine could store its nuclear waste for the next 100 years. The ex-Soviet nation currently has four nuclear power plants operating and has to transport its nuclear waste to Russia. The new repository will allow the government to save up $200 million a year.

Grossi said on Twitter Monday that the IAEA will continue working tirelessly in addressing decommissioning, radioactive waste and environmental remediation related with Chernobyl accident.

Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl power plant 110 kilometers (65 miles) north of Ukraines capital Kyiv exploded and caught fire deep in the night on April 26, 1986, shattering the building and spewing radioactive material into the sky.

Soviet authorities made the catastrophe even worse by failing to tell the public what had happened although the nearby plant workers town of Pripyat was evacuated the next day, the 2 million residents of Kyiv werent informed despite the fallout danger. The world learned of the disaster only after heightened radiation was detected in Sweden.

More than 600,000 people took part in fighting the consequences of the disaster. Thirty plant workers and firefighters died within the first few months after the accident.

Eventually, more than 100,000 people were evacuated from the vicinity and the 2,600-square-kilometer (1,000-square-mile) exclusion zone was established where the only activity was workers disposing of waste and tending to a hastily built sarcophagus covering the reactor.

Radiation continued to leak from the reactor building until 2019, when the entire building was covered by an enormous arch-shaped shelter.

On the 35th anniversary of the disaster on Monday, Ukrainian authorities declassified documents showing that serious accidents occurred at the power plant several times before April 26, 1986.

Ukraines Security Service revealed that the Soviet authorities issued a decree on July 8, 1986, classifying all details of the Chernobyl disaster, including the number of people getting sick. According to the agency, in October 1987 a French journalist tried to take soil and water samples abroad, but the KGB swapped his samples with clean ones.

Continued here:
Ukraine opens new nuclear waste site at Chernobyl - The Associated Press