What They Think
A Survey of the Views of
Foreign Leaders and Diplomats (2014)

“An attention to the judgment of other nations is important to every government for two reasons: the one is, that, independently of the merits of any particular plan or measure, it is desirable, on various accounts, that it should appear to other nations as the offspring of a wise and honorable policy; the second is, that in doubtful cases, particularly where the national councils may be warped by some strong passion or momentary interest, the presumed or known opinion of the impartial world may be the best guide that can be followed.

What has not America lost by her want of character with foreign nations; and how many errors and follies would she not have avoided, if the justice and propriety of her measures had, in every instance, been previously tried by the light in which they would probably appear to the unbiased part of mankind?”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 63, March 1, 1788

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Russia to Ukraine: Irreversible Consequences

This statement, issued July 13 by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, does not leave the impression that the Russians intend to let go in eastern Ukraine. 

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On the morning of the 13 July the Ukrainian army shelled Donetsk, in the Rostov Region, using high-explosive shells. A Russian national died and two were seriously injured as a result of a missile hitting a residential house.

On the same day, an attorney for Ukrainian affairs in the Russian Federation was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a decisive protest by Russia was expressed to him. The note, which was given to the diplomat, states that Russia considers this provocation to be another aggressive act by Ukraine against the sovereign territory of the Russian Federation and the nationals of the Russian Federation.

It was emphasised that this incident highlights that tensions in the area of the Russian-Ukrainian border have dangerously escalated and may have irreversible consequences, for which Ukraine will be held responsible.


Russia insists again that Ukraine immediately takes decisive measures to stop any provocations of this kind.

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"Statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the aggressive actions of Ukraine against the Russian Federation," July 13, 2014
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