Publications Review 25.07.2014. BRICS News on Ukrainian crisis

Indian perspectives on the Ukrainian crisis and Russia’s annexation of Crimea

The statement by India’s national security adviser on March 6th 2014 referring to “legitimate” Russian interest in Ukraine was unsurprisingly criticised in the West, but appreciated in Russia. Most observers missed other important elements in the statement: (1) reference to Ukraine’s internal  issues; (2) recognition that both Russian and other interests  were involved; and (3) emphasis on a peaceful settlement, reconciliation and negotiation.

China Daily: Putin slams Western containment policies, hails Russia-China ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday developments of the Ukrainian crisis testified to Western countries' lasting attempts to contain Moscow, and hailed Russia- China ties as a paragon of international relations. His remarks came hours after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared to terminate the ceasefire in south-eastern regions. Noting Russia as well as some European countries had tried to convince Poroshenko to drop military options, Putin blamed the decision by the newly-elected president on outside pressure. The Russia-China friendship, however, is an example of how international relations should look like.

China Daily: Ukraine crisis not to affect 2018 World Cup in Russia

According to Vitaly Mutko, Russia's sports minister who is also a member of FIFA's executive committee said that the political crisis in the Ukraine will have no impact on Russia's preparations for the 2018 World Cup finals. Mutko, addressing journalists at the "Russia House" at Rio's Museum of Modern Art, said that while Russia faced challenges in getting ready for the 2018 finals over the next four years, the situation in Ukraine was not one of them. Mutko's FIFA colleague Jeffrey Webb, the head of the governing body's anti-discrimination task force, said Russia faced a "special challenge" ahead of the World Cup and might need its own Task Force to deal with the problem.

South China Morning News: Thousands flee Ukraine for Russia as uncertain truce comes to an end

Russia says at least 90,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border to escape unrest that has killed more than 400 as rebels release four detained OSCE observers and EU leaders meet over sanctions.

Many Ukrainian civilians have come to the border of the Russian Federation since Ukraine’s government began fighting separatists in the east, a heavily industrial region with a large population of ethnic Russians, many of whom feel strong ties to Moscow. Air strikes and artillery attacks by the Ukrainian military have infuriated many residents. The OSCE said in its news release that four of eight of its observers who were kidnapped by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine a month ago were released in Donetsk.

South China Morning News: Ukraine’s separatist regions face bleak economic future

With major enterprises closed for the past month, coal production down, and the transportation system in disarray, the economic future of eastern Ukraine’s separatist territories looks bleak. The areas of Donetsk and Lugansk, in the middle of the coal-producing Donbas region, declared independence last month and cut ties with the central government in Kiev. Since then, the region of six million people, Ukraine’s industrial heartland accounting for one fifth of the country’s total gross domestic product, has slipped into lawlessness. Currently the export is 30 per cent of the production goes to the Russian Federation. But Russia won’t be able to buy everything eastern Ukraine produce.

Chinese expert: events in Ukraine will not hamper the growth of Sino-Russian relations

In his speech on the accession of Crimea to Russia, President Vladimir Putin thanked China for its support to Russia on this issue. At the same time, Western experts and the media claim that Beijing allegedly did not support Russia's actions.

South Africa News24: Ukraine could become a new 'Eastern European tiger'

On June 27, the European Union Summit will be conducted the official signing of the economic part of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, which will open a new page in relations between historical trading partners. Ukraine after the signing of the economic association will achieve access to the large European market with its trillion $ trade turnover per year. Thus, Ukraine will have new opportunities, but at the same time, it could not freely sell all their products - as they must meet the technical and sanitary requirements of the EU. But if to invest in technology and make a brand new product - the chance to enter the European market will be incredibly high. At the same time, the agreement with the EU will help the Ukrainian leaders to deal with their overwhelming problems - corruption, poor judicial system and administrative barriers to doing business that will bring Ukraine's economy out of the shadow that could double their budget income and would attract large European and Russian business in promising Ukrainian market.

SA Fin24: Sanctions halt Russian growth - IMF

Sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine have brought growth to a standstill, had a "chilling effect" on investment and could force Moscow into economic isolation. Russia has been hit by sanctions from the United States and European Union, prompting investors to pull out of a country where leaders have used the punitive measures to call for a more self-sufficient, or patriotic, course for the economy.  This comes at a crucial moment when the old growth model based on energy and use of spare capacity has been exhausted and moving to a new growth model based on diversification requires new investment, including foreign technology. Firms are not spending on tangible assets, such as building and infrastructure, and capital expenditure has been falling month after month. Instead, money is flowing out of the country.