Azov Battalion to be reformed into regiment. Because to incorporate neo-Nazis in army is a great idea, right? http://t.co/mFQvvFxNUF
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) September 18, 2014
Some economic rumblings over Ukraine, as reported by our news desk:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says the Ukraine crisis is weighing heavily on economies where the bank operates, including central and southeastern Europe and the former Soviet republics.
As a result, on September 18, the EBRD revised its forecast for its region of operations, predicting a sharp slowdown during 2014 and only modest recovery in 2015.
In Russia, the EBRD predicts sanctions will cause the economy to stagnate in 2014 and contract slightly in 2015.
It says Russia's slowdown poses risks for economies in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia that rely heavily on remittances from Russia.
It predicts Ukraine's economy will contract by 9 percent in 2014 and another 3 percent in 2015.
The EBRD forecasts modest recovery this year in central and southeastern Europe and the Baltics, saying weaker demand from Russia only partly offsets the "positive influence from the eurozone."
I thank Prime Minister @pmharper for his support. pic.twitter.com/M8rxXD9Lrf
— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) September 18, 2014
Putin: "I could be in Warsaw in two days." http://t.co/a5fi73E3tG Can someone just tell this man, we could smash your economy in 2 minutes?
— Ben Judah (@b_judah) September 18, 2014
It seems like Graham Phillips is breaking ranks with his pro-separatist buddies, at least when it comes to the issue of Scottish independence:
Please help support No Thanks, add a #Twibbon now! http://t.co/6ywYAzd4mu pic.twitter.com/fEjluU6iQo
— Graham Phillips (@GrahamWP_UK) September 18, 2014
BBC News - Grim Luhansk wary of Ukraine's shaky truce http://t.co/U0jT3881OX
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) September 18, 2014
Now, Vladimir Putin is accusing the West of not playing by the rules (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western nations of violating the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by imposing sanctions on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis.
Putin told a government meeting today that the sanctions "were nothing but a rejection by some of our partners of basic WTO principles," including the principle of free and fair competition.
He said that, in taking responsive measures, Russia was not seeking to punish the West, but to protect its own interests.
The United States and the European Union accuse Moscow of supporting pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine with troops and weapons, and have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia.
Russia denies any direct involvement, and has retaliated by banning imports of most Western food supplies and some consumer goods.
Russia joined the WTO in 2012 after years of negotiations.
(Interfax, Reuters, AFP)
Meanwhile in Crimea...
The building of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body, the Mejlis (Assembly), has been impounded by Russia's Federal Bailiffs Service.
Some 15 bailiffs arrived at the Mejlis today and requested all people to leave in accordance with a Simferopol court ruling that all property and bank accounts of the Qirim (Crimea) Foundation -- including the Mejlis building -- be impounded.
The chairman of the Crimean Tatar Qurultay (Congress), Zair Smeldyaev, said at the Mejlis today that nobody can order an eviction of the building until a September 22 scheduled hearing on the matter.
The majority of Crimean Tatars opposed Russia's March annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and boycotted local elections on September 14.
On September 15, three masked, armed men removed a Ukrainian flag from the Mejlis building and Russian security forces searched it the next day.
(Reporting by the Crimean Unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
Rally in Donetsk supportind independent Scotland small,but message is big: promise of armed support pic.twitter.com/2eAGAcBlSE #indyref #Ukraine
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) September 18, 2014