Russia and the West drew a tentative line under the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday after U.S. President Barack Obama and his allies agreed to hold off on more damaging economic sanctions unless Moscow goes beyond the seizure of Crimea.

• March 24, 2014

Ukraine will need energy from the European Union to protect it from repercussions of its standoff with Russia, on which it depends for over half its oil and gas supplies, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Saturday.

• March 22, 2014

Russia's annexation of Crimea underlines the need for the United States and the European Union to substantially deepen their economic ties, Washington's top trade official said on Saturday, opening the door to U.S. exports of natural gas to Europe.

• March 22, 2014

Turkey said on Saturday that Twitter was "biased" and had been used for "systematic character assassinations" of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government, a day after Turkey's ban on the site prompted an international outcry.

• March 22, 2014

China and the European Union have reached a deal to end a dispute over European wine exports to China, the latest sign of improving ties and just days before China's president visits Europe.

• March 21, 2014

President Vladimir Putin signed laws completing Russia's annexation of Crimea on Friday as investors took fright at a U.S. decision to slap sanctions on his inner circle of money men and security officials.

• March 21, 2014

The most startling part of Washington's sanctions on Russian businessmen loyal to President Vladimir Putin may be a single sentence that contains an explosive allegation: that Putin himself profits from the world's No. 4 oil trading company, Gunvor.

• March 21, 2014

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 1-15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The death of another Gezi Park protester sends opposition protesters into the streets two weeks ahead of municipal elections.
• While the AKP has been hampered over the last year, polls indicate little change from past election results as opposition candidates lack the star power to counter the AKP’s leadership.
• Fethullah Gulen blasts the ruling government in an op-ed, calling its authoritarian tactics a challenge for Turkish democracy.
• The AKP-Gulen Movement split causes further mistrust between Washington and Ankara, as the White House openly rebukes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan for mischaracterizing a discussion with President Barack Obama.
• Crimea secedes from Ukraine, though its Tatars sit out the referendum. Aside from expressing concern about their plight, Ankara has little leverage over their fate in the new Crimean Republic.

• March 21, 2014