Ukraine
Kiev escalates war in eastern Ukraine
By Christoph Dreier, 12 November 2014
The fiercest fighting since the signing of a ceasefire agreement in early September took place in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk over the weekend.
Dozens of “near miss” incidents bring NATO and Russia to brink of war
By Alex Lantier, 11 November 2014
A London think tank report shows that NATO’s militarization of Eastern Europe over the Ukraine crisis has set armies worldwide on a hair trigger, risking nuclear war.
US, Europe issue new threats after elections in Ukraine’s separatist regions
By Andrea Peters, 4 November 2014
Kiev is signaling its readiness to renew its military offensive against the region on the grounds that the November 2 vote violated the fragile peace deal signed with the separatists in September.
Poland to send troops to eastern border
By Sonja Bach, 4 November 2014
The historic realignment of military forces is part of NATO’s escalation against Russia.
Ukraine’s recession continues to deepen
By David Levine, 30 October 2014
National elections were held in Ukraine on Sunday as social conditions in the country continued a steep decline.
Gas dispute between Ukraine, EU and Russia threatens to escalate
By Clara Weiss, 29 October 2014
A cutoff of Russian gas supplies to the EU would spell economic disaster for a number of European countries.
US, EU hail election staged by ultra-right regime in Ukraine
By Niles Williamson, 28 October 2014
Sunday’s parliamentary elections will be utilized to legitimize further attacks on pro-Russian opponents of the US puppet regime and impose sweeping austerity measures on the working class as a whole.
Right-wing nationalist parties dominate Ukrainian parliamentary elections
By Andrea Peters, 27 October 2014
The vast majority of the electorate in eastern Ukraine did not participate in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
Right-wing oligarchs vie for power in Ukraine elections
By Markus Salzmann and Christoph Dreier, 25 October 2014
Far from ushering in a period of democracy and freedom, the coup in February and new western-backed government have plunged Ukraine into war and dictatorship.
Human Rights Watch documents Ukrainian military’s use of cluster rockets
By Barry Grey, 22 October 2014
“The use of cluster munitions in populated areas violates the laws of war due to the indiscriminate nature of the weapon and may amount to war crimes,” the report states.
Spanish students eject Ukrainian fascist thugs
By Alfie Cook, 18 October 2014
Madrid’s Complutense University is hosting an exhibition, “The Tragedy of Odessa,” detailing the attack by Ukrainian fascists on the trade union building in the city, which killed 42 people.
Russia, Ukraine to negotiate amid deepening crisis
By Christoph Dreier, 17 October 2014
The propositions made to Moscow in the negotiations are accompanied by massive threats and preparations for new aggression against Russia.
Germany to deploy combat troops in Ukraine
By Christoph Dreier, 7 October 2014
The German government is planning to send troops into Ukraine for the first time since the Second World War.
Almost 900,000 refugees from war in Ukraine flee to Russia
By Clara Weis, 1 October 2014
Although the policies of Berlin and Washington are chiefly responsible for the refugee crisis in Ukraine, it has been ignored by the Western media.
Mass graves reveal torture and executions in eastern Ukraine
By Christoph Dreier, 30 September 2014
The brutal crackdown against separatists in the east of the country is closely connected with the imposition of authoritarian forms of rule throughout Ukraine.
Western powers intensify military pressure on Russia
By Stefan Steinberg, 22 September 2014
The NATO plan to establish a cordon of Western troops along Russia’s eastern border makes clear that the primary aim of the ceasefire is to buy time for the Ukrainian army to reorganise its forces.
Poland announces formation of joint military unit with Ukraine and Lithuania
By Niles Williamson, 20 September 2014
Ukraine’s participation in a joint military brigade with Poland and Lithuania, both members of NATO, is part of a reckless campaign of militarization in Eastern Europe instigated by the US and targeting Russia.
Ukrainian president delivers bellicose speech to the US Congress
By Niles Williamson, 19 September 2014
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko delivered an address to a joint session of Congress in which he called for increased economic and military assistance to aid in a “war for the Free World.”
Ukrainian and European parliaments adopt EU Association Agreement
By Peter Schwarz, 18 September 2014
The Association Agreement will go down in history as a dirty deal struck between the imperialist powers of Europe and Ukrainian oligarchs at the expense of the working class.
US and NATO hold military exercises in western Ukraine, as ceasefire begins to fray in east
By Niles Williamson, 16 September 2014
Military exercise involving the US, Ukraine and a host of other countries opened Monday, while arm shipments to the pro-Western and anti-Russian regime in Kiev have begun.
US and EU expand economic sanctions against Russia
By Niles Williamson, 13 September 2014
Banks affected by the new economic restrictions include Russia’s largest lenders Sberbank, Gazprombank and Rosselkhozbank.
Amnesty International documents war crimes by pro-Kiev militia
By Julie Hyland, 11 September 2014
A report from Amnesty International confirms the Ukrainian government is using extreme-right militias to suppress political opposition.
Dutch report into Ukraine jetliner disaster continues cover-up
By Robert Stevens, 10 September 2014
The Dutch Safety Board’s preliminary report into the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is being portrayed by imperialist governments as confirmation that anti-Kiev rebels in eastern Ukraine shot down the plane.
US, EU intensify military threats against Russia
By Kumaran Ira, 10 September 2014
The US and the EU are escalating military threats against Russia, while preparing a raft of new economic sanctions targeting key sections of the Russian economy.
Military maneuvers and sanctions: NATO, EU escalate threats against Russia
By Johannes Stern, 9 September 2014
The three-day marine exercise “Sea Breeze” is another Western provocation and raises the risk of a direct military confrontation with Russia.
Fighting flares in eastern Ukraine despite ceasefire
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 8 September 2014
Kiev and its NATO backers are using the pause in military operations to prepare for an even more aggressive policy in their war in eastern Ukraine.
NATO steps up anti-Russian moves as ceasefire begins in Ukraine
By Jordan Shilton, 6 September 2014
Demonstrating NATO’s renewed focus on Eastern Europe, Poland announced it would host the next NATO summit, scheduled for 2016.
At NATO summit, US and Europe threaten Russia, plan military action against ISIS
By Jordan Shilton, 5 September 2014
The central role in deepening the crises in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East has been played by NATO’s leading powers, above all the United States.
NATO summit begins as anti-Russian measures heighten war danger
By Chris Marsden, 4 September 2014
At a press conference in Estonia, US President Barack Obama could scarcely conceal his hostility to anything that cut across preparations for the NATO summit to adopt a series of anti-Russian measures.
Australia to provide military backing for Ukraine regime
By Nick Beams, 4 September 2014
The announcement on Ukraine was accompanied by signals that Australian collaboration in renewed US operations in Iraq could go beyond transporting supplies and guns.
On eve of NATO summit
US and NATO step up military preparations against Russia
By Niles Williamson, 3 September 2014
The United States and its European allies are preparing to deploy thousands of NATO troops to Eastern Europe, escalating their aggressive military moves directed against Russia.
Ukraine and the militarization of Europe
By Peter Schwarz, 2 September 2014
The politics of the European bourgeoisie is a mixture of ruthless aggression and desperation. Confronted with the hopeless crisis of their system, they are rushing toward a catastrophe, just as they did in 1914 and 1939.
US and Europe escalate provocations against Russia
By Johannes Stern, 1 September 2014
This weekend’s EU summit in Brussels marked a major escalation of threats against Russia, raising the specter of full-scale war between Russia and NATO.
Western threats against Russia increase danger of nuclear war
By Johannes Stern, 30 August 2014
The moves toward Ukrainian membership in NATO underscore the fact that next week’s NATO summit will be aimed at preparing for a possible war against Russia.
The New York Times and Flight MH17
By Bill Van Auken, 30 August 2014
The Times, which presents the responsibility of rebels in eastern Ukraine for downing the airliner as fact, has not reported on the incident for more than a month.
White House threatens Russia over alleged incursion into eastern Ukraine
By Niles Williamson, 29 August 2014
The White House is strongly backing the Ukrainian government as it carries out a brutal war against predominantly Russian-speaking cities in the east.
Continuing media silence on the fate of flight MH17
By Stefan Steinberg, 29 August 2014
Washington and US intelligence are undoubtedly in close contact with the Dutch authorities and complicit in the efforts to bury the truth about what really happened to flight MH17.
NATO steps up military preparations against Russia
By Kumaran Ira, 28 August 2014
NATO is preparing to deploy troops to new bases in Eastern Europe and sending war ships into the Black Sea.
Ukrainian economy in free fall
By David Levine, 26 August 2014
Kiev is scrambling to secure the second tranche of an IMF loan, as its military onslaught against the southeast and austerity policies intensify the economic crisis.
German chancellor Merkel visits Kiev and backs regime
By Christoph Dreier, 26 August 2014
Attempts by Chancellor Merkel to secure German interests in negotiations with Russia do not mean the danger of war is receding.
US and NATO threaten Moscow as Russian aid convoy crosses into Ukraine
By Niles Williamson, 23 August 2014
The crossing of a Russian humanitarian aid convoy into Ukraine on Friday quickly drew threats from the Obama administration, NATO and the US-backed regime in Kiev.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Kiev
By Christoph Dreier, 23 August 2014
The visit takes place at a time of deep crisis for the regime in Kiev and intensified conflict with Russia.
War and social attacks spread throughout Ukraine
By Christoph Dreier, 22 August 2014
The Ukrainian army has expanded its offensive against the rebel-controlled cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, fighting house-to-house battles with rebel groups.
Western powers talk “peace” while eastern Ukraine is decimated
By Julie Hyland, 20 August 2014
Talks between the foreign ministers of Germany, Ukraine, France and Russia failed to produce an agreement while Ukraine continued to attack Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukrainian army steps up offensive in the east
By Christoph Dreier, 19 August 2014
On Sunday German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that “we continue to slide into a direct confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian combat forces.”
Still no evidence of Russia’s alleged military incursion into Ukraine
By Chris Marsden, 19 August 2014
If reports from the Guardian and the Telegraph are to be believed, experienced journalists stood by and watched Russian military vehicles enter Ukraine without taking a photograph to record the event.
Fighting continues in east Ukraine, as Kiev regime moves on Luhansk
By Niles Williamson, 18 August 2014
The Ukrainian government continued it offensive against pro-Russian separatists in the east over the weekend, while a humanitarian aid convoy from Moscow continued to be held up at the border.
Why have the media and Obama administration gone silent on MH17?
By Niles Williamson, 18 August 2014
The deafening silence of the US media and government in regards to the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 reeks of a cover-up.
Leaders of pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine resign
By Andrea Peters, 18 August 2014
As the Putin regime makes renewed overtures to the West, leading figures from the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic have given up their posts.
Kiev’s blocking of Russian aid convoy to east Ukraine escalates risk of war
By Niles Williamson, 16 August 2014
Reports emerged Friday of the deployment of white phosphorus in the Ukrainian regime’s siege of Donetsk. Simultaneously, the threat of war increased as NATO accused Russia of sending military vehicles into Ukraine.
Gaza, Ukraine and US preparations for urban warfare
By Bill Van Auken, 14 August 2014
The Pentagon is embracing the doctrine that the next major US military interventions will most likely be against the populations of major urban centers.
Russian aid convoy prompts Ukraine war threats with US backing
By Julie Hyland, 14 August 2014
The 280 trucks left Moscow Tuesday for the 620-mile journey to Ukraine’s eastern region.
The fascist atrocities in east Ukraine and the fraud of “humanitarian” war
By Alex Lantier, 14 August 2014
The siege of Donetsk and Luhansk is a barbaric act of collective punishment that exposes the humanitarian pretenses of US and European imperialism.
Kiev pledges to block Russian aid convoy to eastern Ukraine
By Christoph Dreier, 13 August 2014
The Ukrainian army is creating a humanitarian disaster in eastern Ukraine and the government in Kiev is blocking relief supplies to the population.
US-backed Ukrainian regime shells civilians in Donetsk, Luhansk
By our reporter, 12 August 2014
The shelling damaged residential areas, hospitals and Russian Orthodox churches and claimed dozens of civilian victims.
Kiev deploys fascist militias against Donetsk
By Niles Williamson, 12 August 2014
Fascist militias, including the neo-Nazi Azov battalion, have been called on in the attack on pro-Russian separatist forces.
War threat grows as Russia prepares to intervene in east Ukraine
By Alex Lantier, 12 August 2014
Plans for a Russian aid convoy in east Ukraine are setting the stage for a direct military clash between Russia and the US-backed Ukrainian regime.
Assault on Donetsk risks war with Russia
By Niles Williamson, 11 August 2014
Washington hypocritically denounced possible Russian plans for a humanitarian intervention in east Ukraine amid the bloody offensive launched by the Western-backed regime in Kiev.
Tensions grow in Germany over threat of war with Russia
By Ulrich Rippert and Peter Schwarz, 11 August 2014
A conflict between two leading German business papers, Handelsblatt and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, reflects sharp tensions within ruling circles over foreign policy.
Canada providing military aid to Ukrainian regime as it wages war
By Richard Dufour, 11 August 2014
The Harper government last week significantly boosted its involvement in Washington’s aggression against Russia.
Malaysian press charges Ukraine government shot down MH 17
By Alex Lantier, 9 August 2014
Given the tightly controlled character of the Malaysian media, it appears that the accusation that Kiev shot down MH17 has the imprimatur of the Malaysian state.
Australian PM backs NATO threats against Russia
By Mike Head, 9 August 2014
Abbott set out a pretext for US-led military aggression, accusing Russia of preparing to invade Ukraine.
US, NATO support the Ukrainian army’s bloody offensive
By Christoph Dreier, 8 August 2014
Representatives of the United States, NATO and the EU have given their support to the bloody military offensive by the Ukrainian army on Thursday.
What lies behind the warmongering by Der Spiegel?
By Christoph Dreier, 8 August 2014
Germany’s leading news magazine, Der Spiegel, is demanding a confrontation with Russia.
Ukrainian offensive against Donetsk raises threat of war with Russia
By Christoph Dreier, 7 August 2014
The Ukrainian military is proceeding with enormous brutality against pro-Russian forces in east Ukraine, threatening to provoke an all-out war.
Ukrainian government forces deploy heavy weaponry as they encircle Donetsk
By Julie Hyland, 6 August 2014
Latest UN figures show that 117,000 people have been forced out of their homes in eastern Ukraine, while an additional 168,000 have moved to Russia
US spy plane incident raises more questions over MH17 crash
By our reporter, 6 August 2014
Despite the insistence of the US and the European powers that Moscow is responsible for the July 17 crash of Malaysia Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, they have not produced any credible evidence to back up their assertions.
EU, US intensify confrontation with Russia
By Christoph Dreier, 5 August 2014
The US and European Union are stepping up their campaign against Russia as the Ukrainian army intensifies its attack on the civilian population in the east of the country.
Eastern Ukraine faces humanitarian crisis as Kiev steps up attack
By Julie Hyland, 4 August 2014
Some 230,000 people are now internally displaced in Ukraine due to the civil war unleashed by the Western-backed regime in Kiev.
Anti-conscription protests grow in Ukraine
By our reporter, 4 August 2014
The Kiev regime has extended the military draft, introduced in May, mainly affecting young men aged between 18 and 25 years of age.
Ukrainian parliament approves deployment of foreign armed forces to crash site
By Niles Williamson, 1 August 2014
An investigative team is serving as an expeditionary force for armed forces from Australia and the Netherlands, amid continued fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Australian pseudo-lefts line up behind US war preparations against Russia
By Nick Beams, 1 August 2014
After remaining silent for days on the downing of MH17, Socialist Alternative is providing grist to the mill of the US-led war drive against Russia.
Kiev regime’s assault on east Ukraine blocks access to MH17 crash site
By Chris Marsden, 31 July 2014
The Western-backed Kiev regime’s offensive in east Ukraine continues, blocking any access to the crash site of Malaysia flight MH17 and provoking appeals from the Netherlands, home to most of the victims.
Former US intelligence personnel challenge Obama to present evidence of Russian complicity in MH17 crash
By our reporter, 31 July 2014
The memorandum was prepared by the VIPS Steering Group led by NSA whistleblower William Binney.
Australia: Two significant reactions to the MH17 tragedy
By Peter Byrne, 31 July 2014
Two Australian families of those killed in the MH17 disaster have made statements that stand out in stark contrast to much of the commentary in the corporate media. They differ sharply from the Australian government’s agenda of exploiting the tragedy as part of the US-led campaign against Russia and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.
EU imposes its first sanctions against the Russian economy
By Peter Schwarz, 30 July 2014
The EU sanctions are meant to force Russia to its knees economically, politically destabilize it, and bring about regime-change in Moscow.
Ukrainian government offensive blocks MH17 investigation
By Peter Symonds, 30 July 2014
The US and its allies have remained virtually silent on Kiev’s military offensive in this particular location, launched just as investigators were due to arrive.
US, Europe to boost sanctions on Russia
By Peter Symonds, 29 July 2014
European support for tougher sanctions reflects both pressure from Washington and a determination to exploit the MH17 crash to the hilt.
Right-wing gutter journalism: Der Spiegel rails against Russia
By Johannes Stern, 29 July 2014
In the aftermath of the crash of flight MH17 over Ukraine, the tirades against Russia in the German press have intensified.
Washington threatens to intervene in east Ukraine fighting
By Niles Williamson, 28 July 2014
The Obama administration is preparing “real time” targeting information on the location of Russian-backed separatist fighters to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Russian media allege flight MH17 shot down by Ukrainian missile unit
By Peter Schwarz, 26 July 2014
Citing Ukrainian security sources, Russian news agencies report that a Ukrainian anti-aircraft unit accidentally shot down the Malaysian airliner.
Provocative Australian-Dutch push for security forces at MH17 crash site
By Peter Symonds, 26 July 2014
There is nothing benign about what Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott described yesterday as “a humanitarian mission”.
Ukraine prime minister resigns as NATO, Australia prepare intervention in east
By Alex Lantier, 25 July 2014
The far-right Kiev government collapsed yesterday as Kiev's bloody civil war in east Ukraine continued to escalate.
New Zealand parliament backs anti-Russian campaign over MH17 disaster
By Tom Peters, 25 July 2014
All the parties voted unanimously in parliament to pressure Moscow to allow Western intervention in eastern Ukraine.
What are the politics of the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17?
By Alex Lantier, 24 July 2014
The response of the American media and state to the crash of flight MH17 follows a modus operandi US imperialism has repeatedly used to railroad the population into war.
US lies and hypocrisy on Gaza and Ukraine
By Bill Van Auken, 23 July 2014
The same government that is wringing its hands over the airliner deaths in Ukraine and making the most provocative charges of moral responsibility, is totally complicit in the deaths in Gaza.
EU foreign ministers announce “forceful” measures against Russia
By Julie Hyland, 23 July 2014
Having destabilised Ukraine and ratcheted up tensions with Russia, the NATO powers are implementing measures they know could devastate the European and world economy.
Australian prime minister lauded over anti-Russian stance and MH17 resolution
By James Cogan, 23 July 2014
All the establishment parties have come together in a display of “national unity,” based on condemnations of Russia, manufactured sorrow and boasts of Australia strutting the “world stage.”
European powers seize on flight MH17 crash as pretext for war
By Peter Schwarz, 22 July 2014
The way the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine is being politically exploited parallels the way the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US was utilized to pursue reactionary aims.
Russian army data points to Ukrainian role in Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash
By Alex Lantier, 22 July 2014
Russian radar and satellite imagery raises serious questions as to the role of the Ukrainian regime and its Western backers in the MH17 crash.
UN resolution on Flight MH17: Australia the cat’s paw for US threats against Russia
By James Cogan, 22 July 2014
The Australian government’s diplomatic intervention is carefully coordinated with Washington.
US escalates threats against Russia over Ukraine crash
By Alex Lantier, 21 July 2014
Though it remains unclear why MH17 crashed or what role Russia played in the tragedy, Washington is using it to escalate its offensive against Moscow and bring Europe into line with US policy.
UK government, media demand punitive action against Moscow over MH17 crash
By Julie Hyland, 21 July 2014
David Cameron has seized on Thursday’s tragic crash in eastern Ukraine to demand a “reset of European-Russia relations.”
Canada backs imperialist aggression in Gaza and Ukraine
By Richard Dufour, 21 July 2014
Canada’s Conservative government has applauded Israel’s assault on Gaza, while seizing upon the crash of a Malaysian Airlines jetliner over Ukraine to ratchet up its support for the US-led drive against Russia.
The crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine
By Alex Lantier, 19 July 2014
The remarks Friday by President Barack Obama on the tragic crash of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine raised far more questions than they answered.
Following Malaysian plane disaster: German media pushes for confrontation with Moscow
By Peter Schwarz, 19 July 2014
Barely 24 hours after the crash of the Malaysian passenger jet over Ukraine, German media outlets are pushing for an escalation of the confrontation with Russia.
Australian political establishment threatens Russia over MH17 crash
By Will Morrow, 19 July 2014
The Australian political elite functions as a chief diplomatic adjunct to Washington’s aggressive intrigues in every corner of the globe.
Washington seizes on Malaysian airliner crash in Ukraine to threaten Russia
By Alex Lantier, 18 July 2014
Before anyone could determine how this tragedy took place, US politicians and media demanded stepped-up action against Russia.
Fascist atrocities mount as US-backed regime assaults eastern Ukraine
By Alex Lantier, 17 July 2014
Ukrainian government forces are unleashing a reign of terror against cities in eastern Ukraine, with the support of Washington and the European Union.
The bombing of eastern Ukraine
By Peter Schwarz, 16 July 2014
The brutal actions against the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine are meant to terrorise all those who oppose the political and social aims of the regime in Kiev.
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