Ukraine Bans Activities of the Russian Orthodox Church

On 24 August President Zelensky signed Law No. 8371 “On Protecting the Constitutional Order in the Field of Religious Organizations”, aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) which had been adopted by the Verkhovna Rada four days earlier, writes Willy Fautre. The law will come into effect 30 days after its publication. However, with…

Summit in Switzerland: Starting Point for Seeking a Universal Formula for Peace

On 15-16 June the World Summit will take place at the Bürgenstock Hotel in the canton of Nidwalden, Switzerland, as announced by the presidents of Ukraine and Switzerland back in mid-January. This is the first event aimed at restoring peace and security in Ukraine, with approximately 100 states and organisations set to participate. In 2022,…

EU Stands With Ukraine

Stand With Ukraine

President von der Leyen has issued the following statement on EU financial support for Ukraine “Last Friday, I spoke with President Zelensky to assess the situation in Ukraine created by Russia’s aggressive actions. We discussed how the EU could continue to support Ukraine both in the immediate and medium term. As ever, the EU stands…

Putin’s goals in the red-hot Donbass

Russia's military build up on the border with Ukraine

Today, trust between the West and Russia is at its lowest level in recent history. Experts compare the current confrontation with the Cuban missile crisis. However, now the rhetoric and threats from the top leadership of the opposing sides have reached such an intensity that the timidly discussed possibility of a war between Russia and…

Russia Rattles Sabres in Donbass

Russian Mortar with capability to fire tactical nuclear shells

The intensification of hostilities in the east of Ukraine, the transfer of additional heavy equipment and thousands of servicemen to the Rostov region by Russia have raised the spectre of the start of a major war in the Donbass again. Moscow is trying to show that it still retains a pseudo-dominant role in the post-Soviet…

Bleak Foreign Policy Outlook for Russia

Externally, the arrest of Ukrainian journalist Vladislav Esipenko in Crimea is not connected with the sensational statement of US President Joe Biden about Russian President Vladimir Putin. The events are separated by some time interval. But, there is actually a connection, as there is with the date of the seventh anniversary of the commemoration of…

EP Calls on Ukraine to Deal with Corruption Prevention Seriously

A statement has been issued by the European Parliament on the consequences of the ruling issued by Ukraine’s Constitutional Court with regard to several provisions on the prevention of corruption and of the Ukrainian criminal code. It reads:“With great concern, we have learned about the 27 October ruling of the Ukrainian Constitutional Court, which declared…

Ukraine’s Game of Monopoly

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus crisis has forced countries to join forces to overcome the consequences.  This is especially true for countries with small budgets which have already had financial problems. The EU has joined forces and extended a helping hand to non-member countries, including Ukraine. Financial assistance, though, is not only intended to…

Deep Concerns in Brussels About the Fight Against Corruption in Ukraine

Brussels observers of the fight against corruption in Ukraine have expressed deep concerns about the efficiency of policies put in place in the last five years, during an online dialogue organised by the Brussels Press Club on 2 September, writes Willy Fautré. On 28 August 2020, the Constitutional Court declared a decree by President Petro…

Ukraine Land Reform

The President of Ukraine has signed the law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Conditions of Circulation of Agricultural Land” Law № 552-IX was originally approved by the Verkhovna Rada on 31 March. The document provides for the formation of a legislative framework for the introduction of market circulation of agricultural…