Europe changes its views about the Ukrainian crisis

There is a chance for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. On August 26 the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are scheduled to meet in Minsk with the president of Ukraine and EU representatives. It would be overly optimistic to expect that the path to peace will be chalked out at once. Nevertheless, the fact that there will be negotiations indicates a major change in the views of Kiev and Western politicians.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is ready to talk with Moscow. Until recently, he preferred to talk exclusively with Western partners - the United States and the EU. Against Russia, there were only ultimatums and provocation in the form of shells at border areas.

Two thirds of Russians against sending troops to Ukraine

The pol Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (WCIOM) survey was published on Monday and shows that "66 percent of Russians do not approve of the idea to use Russian troops to cease the military conflict in Ukraine’s southeast."
This share of respondents is mainly comprised of elderly people and residents of big cities, said the agency.

The need of Russia’s military involvement is supported 27 percent.

When asked what events could justify the use of military force, one third of respondents said this was by no means an acceptable option.

Grèce: vraiment bénéfique, le programme de privatisations?

Les bailleurs de fonds de la Grèce, Union européenne et FMI, s'impatientent face aux difficultés du programme de privatisations du pays, censé contribuer au redressement de l'économie mais dont la pertinence est controversée.

Après trois ans d'efforts, pour de maigres résultats, le doute s'est installé dans l'opinion publique qui commence à se demander si la vente des entreprises et des biens de l'Etat lui apportera quelque bénéfice.

Pour les syndicats du privé et du public, notamment celui du secteur de l'électricité, il est certain que la privatisation des entreprises de distribution d'électricité et d'eau et des infrastructures de transport entraînera des hausses de tarifs, dans un pays déjà en récession depuis six ans.