Putin’s Loss of German Trust Seals the West’s Isolation of Russia

Nov.17, 2014 (time.com)

After a night spent debating the Ukraine crisis with the Russian President, German Chancellor Angela Merkel came out more determined than ever to push the Kremlin out of Eastern Europe

Russia's President Vladimir Putin looks on at a press conference following the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

During a sppech on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel predicted a drawn-out confrontation with Moscow. Breaking from her normally subdued political style, she even invoked the worst years of the 20th century in describing the West’s conflict with Russia over Ukraine. “After the horrors of two world wars and the end of the Cold War, this challenges the peaceful order in Europe,” she said, referring to what she called Putin’s “old-thinking” view of Eastern Europe as Russia’s stomping ground. “I am convinced this won’t succeed,” she said. In the end, the West would win out against the challenge emanating from Russia, “even if the path will be long and hard and full of setbacks,” Merkel told a conference in Brisbane, Australia.

It was in many ways the low point for Putin’s deepening estrangement from the West. During the G20 summit of world leaders held in Brisbane over the weekend, the Russian leader was broadly ostracized by the most powerful figures at the table, and some of them were far less diplomatic toward Putin than Merkel has been. In greeting Putin on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper reportedly said, “I guess I’ll shake your hand, but I have only one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine.” Later that day, Merkel came to the Hilton Hotel in central Brisbane for an unscheduled meeting with Putin that reportedly lasted almost six hours, running well into Sunday morning. The subject was the conflict in Ukraine, and according to the Kremlin, Putin did his best to “clarify in detail the Russian approach to this situation.” But his efforts to win Merkel’s sympathy – or at least her understanding – appear to have done the opposite. He emerged from their encounter apparently so exhausted that he decided to leave the summit early, saying he needed to get some sleep.

http://time.com/3590588/putin-merkel-germany-russia/

U.S. Congress to Consider Granting Weapons and Ammunition to Ukraine

November 11, 2014 (Cenzor.net) The U.S. Congress will consider the law on Lend-Lease, which proposes to transfer weapons, ammunition, and other types of armament to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. The author of the bill, Republican Michael Burgess, is convinced that financial aid in the current situation is no longer enough, Censor.net reports citing the Voice of America. Commenting on the events in Ukraine, Burgess said: "Ukrainians want to live in a united, independent, stable and prosperous democracy. And without a doubt, the war in the Donbas complicates reform efforts. Russian aggression made Ukraine a more united, more democratic and, ironically, more pro-Western. The results of the recent elections have confirmed it. The GOP representative aims to help Ukraine in its quest for freedom and democracy". 

"The position of the Congress is solidarity with Ukraine. The US has already provided financial and material assistance to Ukraine, but taking into account the constant aggression and lack of respect for the peace plan, demonstrated by Russia, Ukraine needs more than money. Ukraine needs weapons, ammunition, body armor, and communication means," the congressman said. "Of course, financial assistance is important, but not as much as weapons and ammunition to fight off the Russian troops which invaded a sovereign country."