· September, 2008

Stories about Ukraine from September, 2008

Ukraine: How Russian is the Crimea?

  30 September 2008

The 8th Circle discusses the Crimea and Ukrainian fears of a Russian secessionist movement, arguing that the peninsula could be compared to other European regions, which today could not be imagined seceding. He also refers to a new book on this theme by Ukrainian writer Taras Kuzio.

Ukraine, Russia: Kvas

  23 September 2008

Darkness at Noon posts an ode to kvas: “To be sure, kvas is the national drink of the East Slavic peoples. Vodka doesn't count because it is consumed largely for its well-documented medicinal benefits. Or at least this is what a local guide in Odessa recently told me. And while...

Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership

  22 September 2008

The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...

Ukraine: MTV and Domestic Violence

  22 September 2008

Natalia Antonova links to her piece on GlobalComment about “MTV Ukraine and the normalization of domestic violence.” LJ user maryxmas has translated Antonova's text into Ukrainian; a Russian translation is posted in the feministki LJ community.

Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?

  22 September 2008

Foreign Notes posts a translation of an article by Party of Regions’ (PoR) Andriy Kluyev, calling for renewed efforts in forming a solid and long-term Ukrainian government – presumably a PoR-Tymoshenko coalition.

Ukraine, EU: A Closer Relationship?

  21 September 2008

The EU's plan to finalize an Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2009 was made public at the EU-Ukraine Summit in Paris on Sept. 9. The media and bloggers greeted it with mixed reactions. “EU offers reassurance to Ukraine,” read a BBC headline. “EU offers no promises to hopeful Ukraine,” wrote...

Ukraine: 77 words on parliamentary upheaval

  20 September 2008

Eternal Remont notes that the latest political crisis in the Ukraine – the dissolution of parliament – was rewarded a full 77 words by a subsection of The New York Times. In his view, the next turmoil might end up in the Gardening Section.

Belarus, Ukraine, Russia: Chernobyl Photo Essay

  17 September 2008

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe links to a photo essay created by teenagers from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia for the International Conference on Chernobyl held in Belarus in April 2006: “It is interesting to see these images – effects of the Chernobyl disaster as seen through the eyes of the children.”

Ukraine: The End of the Orange Coalition

  17 September 2008

“Sparks are flying in the Orange coalition endgame — sparks of Kuchmism,” Ukrainiana wrote one day before the ruling coalition collapsed. Chernobyl and Eastern Europe Blog apologizes “for being so excited last year when the ‘Orange’ coalition assumed power.” A Fistful of Euros is now betting on a new election...

Ukraine, Russia: Politics and Gas

  17 September 2008

Kremlin, Inc writes about “how the deepening political crisis will affect the ongoing talks between Naftogaz and Gazprom concerning the price of imported natural gas for Ukraine.”

Ukraine, Romania: Snake Island Dispute

  16 September 2008

The 8th Circle writes that the Romanian-Ukrainian dispute over Snake Island isn't about “a piece of rock in the Black Sea (about 600×400meters)” – but about natural gas and oil reserves under the Black Sea.

Ukraine: “Annual Political Crisis”

  11 September 2008

“Ukraine is reenacting its annual political crisis,” wrote Vitaliy of The 8th Circle a week ago in a post explaining what's happened and is likely to happen next in Kyiv. Foreign Notes reviews Ukrainian media and politicians’ reactions to the crisis – here and here.