Note to Russia: Ukraine Would Be Better Off Going It Alone
... independence from its eastern neighbor. Whither Ukraine-Russia relations? Unfortunately, the Kremlin is not inclined to give up its coercive diplomacy towards Ukraine anytime soon. According to a recent piece published by the Economist, in addition to gas blackmail, Russia is planning to tighten the screws on the Russian businesses of Ukrainian oligarchs, who have been calling for European integration, in an effort to corral Ukraine into Kremlin-led Eurasian Union. Short-sighted and quintessentially imperialistic, this policy will push Ukraine even further from Russia instead of forcing Kiev into submission. To achieve its ends, the Kremlin needs to recalibrate its understanding of Russia-Ukraine ...