Stories about Ukraine from September, 2008
Ukraine: How Russian is the Crimea?
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: A Letter to Russia by Milli Firqa Party Member
Window on Eurasia writes about media coverage and politicians’ reactions to a letter sent by one of the members of a small Crimean Tatar party to presidents of Russia and Tatarstan.
Poland, Russia, U.S.: A “New Cold War” or Not?
The beatroot hosts a discussion of the Polish-Russian-American relationship in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Ukraine, Russia: Kvas
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
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
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: Battle for Crimean minds
Kyiv Scoop discusses how pupils and people in Crimea are influenced to love Russia and loath Ukraine.
Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?
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?
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...
Eastern Europe: Blogs in German on the Slavic Triangle
Krusenstern presents [GER] a list of 24 blogs in German about Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Ukraine: 77 words on parliamentary upheaval
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.
Poland-Ukraine: Saving the 2012 UEFA Soccer Championship
The 8th Circle discusses how Poland and Ukraine – despite domestic political turmoil – cope with preparations of the 2012 UEFA soccer championship.
Belarus, Ukraine, Russia: Chernobyl Photo Essay
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
“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: Kyiv Traffic
Greetings from Kyiv posts pictures of Kyiv traffic.
Ukraine: Blogcamp CEE 2008
Oleksandr Demchenko announces registration for Blogcamp Central & Eastern Europe 2008, to be held in Kyiv on Oct. 17-19.
Ukraine, Russia: Politics and Gas
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
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.
Russia: Ukrainian NGOs Exporting Orange Ideas?
Osteuropablog discusses [GER] an article on Rosbalt.Ru about a perceived threat of Ukrainian NGOs in southern Russia bringing an Orange Revolution to the country.
Ukraine: Museums and Embroidery
MoldovAnn visits a few folk arts museums and tries her hand at Ukrainian traditional embroidery.
Ukraine: “Annual Political Crisis”
“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.