A lot of complicated speculations had been made around the traveling of the member of Ukrainian Parliament Elena Bondarenko to the United States. Someone insisted that the US Embassy, taking into account the latest repressions against Ukrainians, canceled the entry visa for Elena Bondarenko, who is an active member of the ruling Party of regions. What could be true in this story?

The latest political developments in Ukraine demonstrate the increasing attempts of Russia to keep the effective control over of the most important part of the whole Europe – the Eastern and Central Europe. More precise analysis has been made on the state of cooperation between Russia and Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic, Check Republic and Bulgaria that helps Ukraine to make better political projection of the Russian policy towards Kyiv.

According to the outcomes of the latest analysis which main aim was to understand the trends of the latest internal processes in the Ukrainian Foreign Service, the whole diplomatic system faces significant difficulties. The brutal deaths of Ukrainians had occurred last days caused to further demoralization. The majority of the diplomatic staff is finding the possible ways for fighting for democratic future of the country.

The Annual Forecast for 2014 with a prediction of the main trends in global policy and foreign affairs and finding the proper place of Ukraine in those trends is a regular attempt of the Geostrategy Group to take a precise glance on the changing world and Ukraine in the world. What Kyiv should expect in the New Year and who will be the main global Players on the Ukrainian political field?

In 2013 Croatia became twenty eight member state of the European Union. Some high-level officials from Brussels were quick to state that joining Croatia to the EU is a real proof of the continuation of the the united Europe’s viability. But hardly Croatia will be able to become in the nearest future a real full member of the European Union. What are the reasons behind this statement? 

In the second half of 2013, the United States and Romania have dramatically increased cooperation in military and security spheres. This comes during worsening of Russian-American relations and in the context of preparation for beginning the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. Does this trend have potential risks for Ukraine?

Despite the significant efforts made by many international organizations, humanitarian aids and very high yields within the last years, many countries are still experiencing acute shortage of foods. This applies particularly to the African continent and South East Asia. The reason for these trends is rather clear: these two regions provide a major percentage increase in world population and, in the vast majority, have the critically low level ensuring of foods. Could Ukraine make advantages from such situation?

Upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, where Ukraine expects to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, makes a lot of high-ranking Ukrainian diplomats rather nervous. Because people who are close to the Minister Leonid KOZHARA are planning to start large-scale scheme of so-called “staff cleansing” within the Foreign Office of Ukraine.

Against the background of intensification of Russian diplomacy towards Ukraine and other CIS’s countries – Belarus and Moldova, Moscow quietly continues to lose its political and economic position in another important region – in the Central Asia. China is skillfully using this trend gradually robbing the leverage of influence over the political, economical and energy processes in the region. But what does it mean for Ukraine?