As the West and Russia go about rooting out each other’s spies, they also lose the ability to keep tabs on each other. Time to get back in touch.
Not all eyes are on the prize: Eurovision is often as much about undeclared alliances, voting blocs and political paybacks.
Andres Putting (EBU)/Eurovision
For the first time, Australians can vote for this year’s Eurovision winner. But it’s as much a political battlefield as a song contest – so hopefully the Russians have forgotten the “shirtfront”.
Cristian Nitoiu, London School of Economics and Political Science
Putin is superficially more popular than ever, but his extravagantly militaristic policy and Russia’s economic isolation mean he’s walking a tightrope.
Vladimir Putin has his own geopolitical priorities.
EPA/Alexei Druginyn/RIA Novosti/Kremlin Pool
As tensions run high over Russia’s gas supplies to the Ukraine, and by extension parts of Europe, the reality for the EU is less than perfect: it will need Russian gas for the foreseeable future.
Observing the MH17 crash site.
EPA/Alexander Ermochenko
Barack Obama is considering supplying “lethal defensive weapons” to Ukraine. But how meaningful is that description? There are simply “weapons”, all of which can be used for defence or for aggression.