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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

CFR Update 9/3 Confusion Over Ukraine Cease-fire Agreement

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Council on Foreign Relations Confusion Over Ukraine Cease-fire Agreement
September 3, 2014

Top of the Agenda

Confusion Over Ukraine Cease-fire Agreement
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko announced Wednesday that he had reached an agreed with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on a cease-fire (Reuters) in the country's conflict with pro-Russian rebels, but Moscow denied the truce deal, saying the two leaders only discussed steps toward peace. Meanwhile, U.S. president Barack Obama arrived in Estonia (DW) ahead of the NATO summit in Wales to reassure Baltic leaders, pledging to bolster U.S. air force presence in Baltic states. The International Monetary Fund warned that Ukraine could require as much as $19 billion in international financing (FT) if the war continues through 2015.

Analysis

"The priority for policymakers in Washington will be to cling to as much of the substance of Western liberal order as possible, while carefully managing its rising frictions and differences with Russia and China," writes CFR's Stewart Patrick.
"After a summer of rapidly deteriorating crises around the world, the Wales summit is Mr Obama's chance to end the sense of drift—and strategic confusion–which has gripped his presidency. He must seize the moment," writes the Financial Times.
"NATO's European members should show their serious intent in another way, too. Fiscal austerity and a false sense of security have resulted in years of defence-budget cuts, whereas Russia has doubled its military spending (in nominal terms) since 2007," writes the Economist.

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