The dust has settled on Ukraine's election, and Zelensky has received the control over Ukraine's Rada that he sought shortly after his victory to become President of Ukraine.
In many ways, the success of Zelensky's party represents phase two of the Maidan revolution of 2014.
Phase one was the overthrow of Yanukovich, and the buildup, executed by Poroshenko, of powerful armed forces that held the line against Putin's invasion of the Donbas, and his illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
Poroshenko also laid the groundwork for the free and fair elections that ultimately led to his downfall and the rise of Zelenskiy and his "Servant Of The People" party which now, effectively, controls Ukraine's Rada.
And falling into Zelensky's lap, like a ripe apple, Nastassia Astrasheuskaya and Henry Foy inform us that,
"Russia could miss the deadline to begin pumping gas to Europe through the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, unless Denmark approves construction in its waters in the next few weeks.
...
"If we do not get approval from the Danish in the next few weeks then we will not make the deadline," a senior official close to Nord Stream 2 told the Financial Times. A second source close to the project said the next month would be critical. "It is almost August and that creates concern if not panic," the person said." (Financial Times : 28 July 2019) (my emphasis)
As
Roman Olearchyk (left) also writes,
Igor Burakovsky, head of Kiev’s Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, said, "Mr Zelensky’s team was inheriting a “great starting position”, with the economy growing following a deep plunge that followed Russia’s 2014 invasion." (Financial Times: 22 July, 2019) (my emphasis)
But he also sounds a note of caution, stating that,
“With the presidency, parliament, prime minister and cabinet now under his control, Volodymyr Zelensky will have little excuse for not pushing through a reform agenda to boost Ukraine’s deflated economy.”
....
"...the president has also caused consternation with some of his pronouncements during the parliamentary election campaign. His recent call to purge officials who served under his predecessor was condemned by G7 countries. Business is concerned by this weekend’s probe into a domestic steel mill owned by top investor Arcelor Mittal, which Mr Zelensky accused of polluting his hometown city, Kryviy Rih." (ibid Roman Olearchyk) (my emphasis)
Now recall that,
“On the question of reaching peace agreements with Russia, we [i.e. Ukraine's new President, Volodymyr Zelensky] are considering holding a popular referendum,” Andriy Bogdan said.(Natalia Zinets : Reuters : 21 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
One could argue that Zelensky has had his 'referendum', and the people of Ukraine have spoken.
"Peace", however, is simply not on Putin's mind.
As UNIAN informs us,
"Moscow-backed forces in the Donbas warzone continue planting Russia-made landmines, proscribed by international conventions, says the report published on Ukraine defense ministry's website. "The command of the Russian occupation forces is taking measures to build up fortifications at forward positions of the units of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) army corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," reads the report referring to Ukrainian intelligence data." (UNIAN : 25 July 2019) (my emphasis)
Furthermore, as reported by The South China Morning Post,
"Ukraine on Thursday seized a Russian tanker it said was used in a naval confrontation last November amid sensitive prisoner swap talks between the two countries who have been at loggerheads since 2014.
...
Ukrainian analyst Sergiy Solodky said the move likely took Russia by surprise, saying Moscow had hoped for Kiev to have a softer position on Russia after Zelensky took office in May.
...
“This will provoke an angry reaction from the Russian leadership,” he said." (SCMP : 26 July 2019) (my emphasis)
Adding to Putin's anger over the seizure of his tanker is the fact that after a long period of silence, Putin's opponents staged a demonstration two days ago in Moscow that led to the detention of more than one thousand protestors.
As reported by the BBC,
"Police in Moscow have detained more than 1,000 people at a rally, in one of the biggest crackdowns in years. Demonstrators were dragged away from the city hall as security forces used batons against the crowd. People were protesting against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local polls. The opposition say they were barred for political reasons." (BBC : 27 July 2019) (my emphasis)
No doubt Putin views this demonstration as somewhat linked to Zelensky's call on others in the post-Soviet countries,
" ... to see what is “possible” if one does what Ukraine is doing and offering Ukrainian citizenship to those, including Russians, who are struggling against authoritarian regimes.
To the extent he follows through on these words, Kseniya Kirillova says, he will be conducting “an active information war” against the Kremlin and “will be struggling not so much for territory as for the hearts and minds of those who live there”" (Paul Goble (right): Window on Eurasia : 7 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
Given now that Putin has vented his rage on Navalny by incarcerating him for supporting the Moscow demonstration (c.f. above), and whose incarceration has led to him being rushed to hospital with a 'mysterious' illness (recall the poisoning of Yushchenko), will Putin now sit down with Zelensky and talk peace?
(to be continued)
In many ways, the success of Zelensky's party represents phase two of the Maidan revolution of 2014.Phase one was the overthrow of Yanukovich, and the buildup, executed by Poroshenko, of powerful armed forces that held the line against Putin's invasion of the Donbas, and his illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
Poroshenko also laid the groundwork for the free and fair elections that ultimately led to his downfall and the rise of Zelenskiy and his "Servant Of The People" party which now, effectively, controls Ukraine's Rada.
And falling into Zelensky's lap, like a ripe apple, Nastassia Astrasheuskaya and Henry Foy inform us that,
"Russia could miss the deadline to begin pumping gas to Europe through the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, unless Denmark approves construction in its waters in the next few weeks....
"If we do not get approval from the Danish in the next few weeks then we will not make the deadline," a senior official close to Nord Stream 2 told the Financial Times. A second source close to the project said the next month would be critical. "It is almost August and that creates concern if not panic," the person said." (Financial Times : 28 July 2019) (my emphasis)
As
Roman Olearchyk (left) also writes,Igor Burakovsky, head of Kiev’s Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, said, "Mr Zelensky’s team was inheriting a “great starting position”, with the economy growing following a deep plunge that followed Russia’s 2014 invasion." (Financial Times: 22 July, 2019) (my emphasis)
But he also sounds a note of caution, stating that,
“With the presidency, parliament, prime minister and cabinet now under his control, Volodymyr Zelensky will have little excuse for not pushing through a reform agenda to boost Ukraine’s deflated economy.”
....
"...the president has also caused consternation with some of his pronouncements during the parliamentary election campaign. His recent call to purge officials who served under his predecessor was condemned by G7 countries. Business is concerned by this weekend’s probe into a domestic steel mill owned by top investor Arcelor Mittal, which Mr Zelensky accused of polluting his hometown city, Kryviy Rih." (ibid Roman Olearchyk) (my emphasis)
Now recall that,
“On the question of reaching peace agreements with Russia, we [i.e. Ukraine's new President, Volodymyr Zelensky] are considering holding a popular referendum,” Andriy Bogdan said.(Natalia Zinets : Reuters : 21 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
One could argue that Zelensky has had his 'referendum', and the people of Ukraine have spoken.
"Peace", however, is simply not on Putin's mind.
As UNIAN informs us,
"Moscow-backed forces in the Donbas warzone continue planting Russia-made landmines, proscribed by international conventions, says the report published on Ukraine defense ministry's website. "The command of the Russian occupation forces is taking measures to build up fortifications at forward positions of the units of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) army corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," reads the report referring to Ukrainian intelligence data." (UNIAN : 25 July 2019) (my emphasis)Furthermore, as reported by The South China Morning Post,
"Ukraine on Thursday seized a Russian tanker it said was used in a naval confrontation last November amid sensitive prisoner swap talks between the two countries who have been at loggerheads since 2014....
Ukrainian analyst Sergiy Solodky said the move likely took Russia by surprise, saying Moscow had hoped for Kiev to have a softer position on Russia after Zelensky took office in May.
...
“This will provoke an angry reaction from the Russian leadership,” he said." (SCMP : 26 July 2019) (my emphasis)
Adding to Putin's anger over the seizure of his tanker is the fact that after a long period of silence, Putin's opponents staged a demonstration two days ago in Moscow that led to the detention of more than one thousand protestors.
As reported by the BBC,
"Police in Moscow have detained more than 1,000 people at a rally, in one of the biggest crackdowns in years. Demonstrators were dragged away from the city hall as security forces used batons against the crowd. People were protesting against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local polls. The opposition say they were barred for political reasons." (BBC : 27 July 2019) (my emphasis)
No doubt Putin views this demonstration as somewhat linked to Zelensky's call on others in the post-Soviet countries,
" ... to see what is “possible” if one does what Ukraine is doing and offering Ukrainian citizenship to those, including Russians, who are struggling against authoritarian regimes.To the extent he follows through on these words, Kseniya Kirillova says, he will be conducting “an active information war” against the Kremlin and “will be struggling not so much for territory as for the hearts and minds of those who live there”" (Paul Goble (right): Window on Eurasia : 7 May, 2019) (my emphasis)
Given now that Putin has vented his rage on Navalny by incarcerating him for supporting the Moscow demonstration (c.f. above), and whose incarceration has led to him being rushed to hospital with a 'mysterious' illness (recall the poisoning of Yushchenko), will Putin now sit down with Zelensky and talk peace?
What 'peace' talks can Putin and Zelensky have given the nature of these current events?
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