Ukraine as a car overrun by Russian monkeys? Looks like its time to call it a night...
This ends our live-blogging for September 23. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
BuzzFeed identifies a D.C. lobbying firm, BGR, that "multiple sources" say is "working with the new Ukrainian government." It is unclear whether the sides have a contract.
Individuals from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office and BGR did not respond to requests for comment, BuzzFeed says:
BGR would be the first Western firm to work with Poroshenko on his outreach in the West post-Maidan revolution and in the midst of the slow-motion Russian invasion. The Russians, on the other hand, have a robust lobbying presence in the West and have employed major firms like Ketchum and GPlus for some time. The Ukrainians need the help; they have been asking the West to help them fight the Russians for months, and have also been pushing for heavier sanctions. Poroshenko recently came to Washington and addressed Congress, where he gave a speech heavy on American-friendly themes like Israel, Abraham Lincoln, and JFK. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has resisted providing military support to the Ukrainians in favor of a series of sanctions that have not appeared to slow Russian advances.
The Ukrainians are being advised in a different way by the Open Society Foundations, billionaire George Soros’ worldwide grant-making organization. The organization runs a branch called the International Renaissance Foundation in Kiev, which was founded after the fall of the Soviet Union, and is planning to build three branch offices elsewhere in Ukraine, according to Leonard Benardo, the Open Society Foundations’ regional director for Eurasia.