by M. K. Bhadrakumar,* India
(21 February 2023) There was an air of magical realism in the daylong visit to Kiev1 last Friday [3 February] by the EU’s policy commissioners comprising the executive branch of the group – the so-called College – led by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
by Robert Seidel
(14 February 2023) The war in Ukraine and its further course could not come as a surprise. Seen from a distance, it represents a logical continuation of the US strategy to maintain global dominance. Washington’s military guidelines and plans are open to public scrutiny.1 Consequences are frightening.
by Karin Leukefeld,* Syria
(14 February 2023) (Red.) “Swiss Standpoint” asked Karin Leukefeld, a freelance journalist accredited in Syria, for a short statement on the severe earthquake of 6 February 2023. Next week we will publish her detailed report on the consequences of this catastrophe.
by Vijay Prashad,* Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
(14 February 2023) In 1996, the eight countries on the Arctic rim — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States — formed the Arctic Council, a journey that began in 1989 when Finland approached the other countries to hold a discussion about the Arctic environment.
by Karin Leukefeld*
(14 February 2023) (Edit.) The tragic and historically outrageous unilateral decision by the Swiss government in February 2022 to endorse EU sanctions against Russia across the board, despite Switzerland’s neutrality, has seriously damaged Switzerland’s role as a neutral mediator. Moreover, it permanently devalued the position of Geneva as a proven venue for negotiations. This is having a noticeable impact already – and, as always with sanctions, primarily on the lower classes and the poor. The following article from Syria by Karin Leukefeld illustrates how this works. (cm)
by Jeffrey Sachs,* USA
(7 February 2023) Neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve a decisive military victory in their ongoing war: both sides have considerable room for deadly escalation. Ukraine and its Western allies have little chance of ousting Russia from Crimea and the Donbas region, while Russia has little chance of forcing Ukraine to surrender. As Joe Biden noted in October, the spiral of escalation marks the first direct threat of “nuclear Armageddon” since the Cuban missile crisis 60 years ago.