Members of the pro-Kremlin youth group Anti-Maidan protested outside the Moscow bureaus of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America today. The protesters held signs in shape of cookies with slogans such as "Cookies Flavored With Lies," in reference to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's visit to the Maidan protests in Kyiv, at which she reportedly handed out cookies. The Anti-Maidan group claims the United States was behind the mass demonstrations that toppled the Ukrainian government one year ago. Video from our Russian Service:
One, very widespread at this point, interpretation of Putin's otherwise slightly mysterious move.
In today's Daily Vertical, Brian Whitmore says Moscow's ace in the hole -- the link between Kyiv's control of Ukraine's external borders and decentralization -- makes it easy for Moscow to simply restart the war whenever it chooses.
