Ukraine War - Streets of Lviv (2014)
Documentary interviews people in the city of Lviv about life in Ukraine during the Civil War.
By: FullWarMovies
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Ukraine War - Streets of Lviv (2014) - Video
Ukraine Tightens Controls Over Terror Threat: 7 transport corridors established in eastern regions
Ukraine is tightening control of transport in and out of the eastern Ukrainian regions that are currently occupied by Russian-backed insurgents as the threat of terror attacks rises. Ukraine #39;s...
By: UKRAINE TODAY
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Ukraine Tightens Controls Over Terror Threat: 7 transport corridors established in eastern regions - Video
Czech President Dubs Yatsenyuk #39;war PM: Kremlin-loyal Zeman #39;s ratings plummet over Ukraine crisis
Czech President Milos Zeman has described Ukraine #39;s Arseniy Yatsenyuk as a #39;war prime minister #39;. That #39;s according to Czech newspaper Pravo, who also report that Zeman says Yatsenyuk wants to...
By: UKRAINE TODAY
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Czech President Dubs Yatsenyuk 'war PM: Kremlin-loyal Zeman's ratings plummet over Ukraine crisis - Video
Call it a tale of two countries, or close neighbors with very different types of governance.
Last year, Russia and Ukraine were in a low-level war over territory, sparked by Ukraines drive to live outside Moscows shadow. This year, with that conflict frozen by a ceasefire, they instead face steep economic declines. Both have been forced to turn inward. Without quick reforms, either regime could lose popularity and fall.
For the rest of 2015, the Ukraine-Russia clash may be less about power plays against each other and more about which country can rule with the winning principles for economic recovery.
Their contest over domestic reform is worth watching. Many nations wonder which governing model autocratic or democratic brings sustainable growth. With their overlapping history, culture, and religion, Russia and Ukraine offer a unique test as they cope with acute internal challenges.
So far, despite its endemic corruption and huge debt, Ukraine is ahead. Since November, it has had leaders in place who were elected in relatively clean elections and on campaign promises of fundamental reform, such as downsizing government to reduce incentives for graft. Most of the new ministers have been selected for their youth and ability to speak English.
Although of different parties, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and President Petro Poroshenko seem united in a political coalition intent on promoting transparency and accountability. To its credit, Ukraine does not have a charismatic individual to whom the people look for leadership. Ever since Russia posed an immediate threat in 2014, most Ukrainians have realized their future lies in their collective hands.
The new regime in Kiev, however, feels political heat, not only from civic activists who helped oust a corrupt leader last February but from the European Union and International Fund. It needs another $15 billion in addition to the $17 billion already promised by the IMF. Reforms are needed quickly, even if they upset the business oligarchs who control major industries.
In contrast, Russia is largely run by one man, President Vladmir Putin, who courts and commands oligarchs while squashing major dissent. While his popularity is high after his military adventures in Ukraine, he now faces a collapsed currency, high inflation, Western sanctions over his taking of Crimea, and long-term decline in oil revenue to his state budget. Russia also faces a population decline and an exodus of its richest and most entrepreneurial people.
Mr. Putins main reform so far is designed to close off the economy from foreign competition. Elections and major media are have become tightly controlled. And the most critical reform of police and the courts is not happening, despite a need for rule of law in civic and property rights, not to mention in curbing corruption.
Rather than push democratic reform, Putin hopes that oil prices will recover within two years and his government can survive on the more than $400 billion in foreign reserves earned from years of high oil prices.
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Russia and Ukraine: a contest less of war and more of governance
Ukraines government is holding talks with pro-Russian separatists on a prisoner exchange, according to a rebel official cited by Russian news service RIA Novosti.
Ukrainian authorities are holding about 220 separatists, while the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic has about 30 prisoners, RIA cited Darya Morozova, the breakaway regions ombudsman for human rights, as saying. The next prisoner swap could take place in mid-January, Denis Pushilin, the separatist envoy to the talks, was quoted as saying by RIA.
Weve started to hold negotiations on the exchange of war prisoners, Morozova was quoted as saying. We dont know yet when the exchange will take place.
Ukraines government has held on-and-off negotiations with the rebels after the two sides traded more than 370 captives following negotiations on Dec. 24 in Minsk, Belarus. Envoys from Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the separatists have failed to make further progress, however, on entrenching the fragile cease-fire that has been in place since Dec. 9.
At least 23 insurgents were killed in fighting among rebel factions, according to Ukrainian intelligence, military spokesman Volodymyr Polevyi said in Kiev today. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded and none were killed, he said.
Russias markets have been roiled by the conflict, with sanctions imposed by the European Union and the U.S. combining with plunging oil prices to push its economy toward recession.
The sanctions were aimed at getting Russia back to the negotiating table, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel was cited by Bild am Sonntag newspaper as saying, and not to push Russia into economic and political chaos.
We want to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine but dont want to force Russia to its knees, Gabriel was quoted as saying. Those who want this are provoking a much more dangerous situation for all of us in Europe. After all, Russia is a nuclear power.
Gabriel said that while he would like Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a G-8 meeting in Germany this year, he saw little probability of that happening.
Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France will also hold a meeting in Berlin tomorrow according to the Normandy format at the level of Foreign Ministry political directors, Interfax reported. The meeting will focus on implementing a peace agreement reached in Minsk in September, the Russian news service said, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.
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Ukraine in Talks With Rebels on Prisoner Exchange, RIA Says