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Ukraine, a young democracy in the heart of Europe, is grappling with an almost impossible set of tasks.

The emergence of a democratic and independent Ukraine is transforming the geo-strategic landscape of Central Europe.

In the past three years, the 2013/2014 Euromaidan protests, the annexation of Crimea and the war in East Ukraine have reshaped the geopolitical map of Europe and derailed cooperation between Russia and the West.

In the years leading to the Euromaidan protests, the directionless political drift and pervasive corruption inspired not only the movement for democratisation in Ukraine, but also the ambition to join the European Union and solidify ties with the West.

Following the Euromaidan protests, the sharp departure from Russias sphere of influence caused social cleavages, particularly in the Ukrainian cross-border territories, and the rise of extremism on both sides.

Ukraine is now in sharp economic and industrial decline. It is battling a massive decline in population (due to a mass exodus for economic reasons and an increase in death rates caused by war) and ecological catastrophe in the self-proclaimed independent republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The prospect of joining the EU as a full member is now very distant.

As a result, Ukraine, a young democracy in the heart of Europe, is grappling with an almost impossible set of tasks. It must prevent its economy from collapsing, reform its state and secure international support to defend its territory.

Despite these challenges, Ukraine may be nearer to the democratic pole than other regimes in the post-Soviet region. This offers us an insight into how a young democracy with turbulent internal dynamics can develop and strengthen in a hostile geopolitical environment.

Political scholars, observers and international leaders from around the world recognise the global importance of Ukraines crisis. It has impacts on European security policy, US strategy, efforts to calm the Syrian war and Chinas foreign policy, as well as broader democratic developments in post-Soviet Eastern Europe.

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Ukraine - The Conversation AU

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rantnrave:// It is an inescapable truth that sports media's largest brokers have partnerships with the leagues they cover. It makes for some murky lines and puts networks like Turner in difficult positions when their product angers a partner. Friday, Bleacher Report tweeted a snarky caption along with a blooper of Dirk Nowitzki shooting an air ball. It would have disappeared into the social media ether, except Mavericks owner Mark Cuban noticed it and went on a crusade to have it deleted. (Why he cared that much about one snarky tweet is another question -- Cuban managed to give it more pub. Guess you never know who'll care about what you tweet.) He emailed Turner president David Levy and shared their conversation on Twitter -- and then deleted it once the B/R tweet was gone, too. This has sent ripples throughout the sports media. B/R's tweet was harmless but instead of backing its content team, the company capitulated to Cuban. This episode bites at B/R's sovereignty and surely will be in the minds of the company's talent when they write, tweet or speak from now on. Charles Barkley can say what he wants but that license doesn't necessarily trickle all the way down at Turner. Sports media should be able to speak without restraint. This is especially important to preserve as leagues expand their sphere of influence. Will this episode have a chilling effect on B/R or any other entity with ties to the NBA? The media networks that partner with sports leagues must decide how much power they give to the leagues and owners they pay money to. ... Are mainstream sportswriters turning liberal in response to President Trump? Or are they just suddenly speaking out? We explore the politics in our new REDEF SportsSET: "Is Sportswriting Making a Left Turn?" ... Don't stereotype esports viewers. They're more likely to have full-time employment and to have a higher than average household income. And they like to watch the NFL. As esports continues its emergence, data like this will be important to understand its audience and why it's becoming so popular. ... How will NASCAR market Daniel Suarez, a Mexican-born rising star? Its CEO, Brian France, supports President Trump and its fans lean right -- at a time when Trump and the Republican party have a difficult relationship with the Hispanic community. ... What we know about NBA jersey ads so far. This is probably a trial-and-error period right now for NBA teams -- a small step into a big puddle. If teams find that fans don't mind, there should be a slow creep of larger and more prominent ads. The fan in me doesn't like it, but the capitalist understands. ... Is Fancy Bears, the Russian group believed to be involved in hacking the DNC, now trying to expose cheating in U.S. track? ... You do not know My-King Johnson yet. You probably will soon.

In Ukraine, a group of young men escape the trauma of war with good old American football. Alexey Furman & Robert Langellier | Roads & Kingdoms

Beggs, his opponents and hundreds who attended the state meet were forced to confront one of the country's thorniest and most divisive issues. Kent Babb | The Washington Post

"I do feel like when I say that, it can put a target on my back. But whatever." Zack Rosenblatt | The Arizona Republic

Risky pursuits like BASE jumping offer a buzz better than any drug. New technologies provide the same rush without the danger. Steven Kotler & Jamie Wheal | Outside Online

Happy 40th anniversary, 'Slap Shot'! Why the greatest hockey movie of all time captures the 1970s better than any other sports movie. Dan Epstein | Rolling Stone

"It's not enough to be smart. You have to be curious."

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Ukraine's gridiron, a Wildcat's courage and 'Slap Shot' turns 40 - ESPN

There is a new landmark in Moscow, opposite the towering ramparts of the Kremlins Borovitskaya Gate. That imposing fortified passage, through which presidential motorcades traditionally enter and exit, now shares its position on the Kremlins southern flank with an enormous statue of Vladimir, which was unveiled late last year. This Vladimir is not Putin, but the sainted Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev, whose baptism signaled the conversion of the Rus to Orthodox Christianity in the 10th century, and the alignment of their vast Eastern European empire with Constantinople and the heirs of Rome. Notably, the so-called Baptism of the Rus took place neither in Moscow nor in Kiev, but in Crimea.

This symbolism is not lost on Russian officials or ordinary Moscovites. Both understand that just as Soviet and post-Soviet rulers have governed Russia from the Kremlin, they now seek to assert their sway over lands once ruled by Vladimir. The conviction that Crimea is legitimately Russian landnever again to be lost, bartered or leasedhas become a catechism. As for the rest of Ukraine, Russians see a mix of a grim but acceptable status quo and developments that may gradually break in their favor. That is why, for now at least, Moscows strategy is to stay the course there. ...

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Russia's Calculus in Ukraine Is a Mix of Strategic Patience and Grim Resignation - World Politics Review

Ukraine has taken another significant step toward the protection and inclusion of the countrys lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. In early February, the Ministry of Health released for public discussion a draft medical form for patients choosing a family doctor, as part of broader healthcare reform. In the proposed form, a Ukrainian can choose to indicate which gender they are female or male or choose not to indicate their gender, option N.

Ukraines Ministry of Health draft declaration open for public discussion. Section 4 asks people for gender and offers three options male, female or N (), which means they can choose not to indicate their gender.

If the form is adopted, for the first time in Ukraine, people who do not identify as male or female will be able to fill out an official document that acknowledges their gender identity. The transgender community is diverse, and precisely how their gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth differs from person to person. This community includes gender variant people, whose gender identity may be somewhere on the spectrum between male and female, as well as people who may not define in terms of either male or female.

Principle 3 of the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law to sexual orientation and gender identity affirms that peoples self-identified gender identity is integral to their personality and is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom.

The inclusive medical form proposed in Ukraine is a step towards ensuring peoples gender identity is respected in the process of accessing health care. Gender identity and its recognition are an essential part of any persons wellbeing and a basic human right. Ukraines Ministry of Health is showing leadership in promoting respect for all Ukrainians by developing procedures and documents that recognize their diversity and fundamental right to self-expression and identity. One hopes that after the public discussion ends in March, the ministry will adopt the simple change to the form that will nonetheless have far-reaching effects.

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Ukraine Acts to Improve Diversity and Inclusion - Human Rights Watch

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Minnesotans with ties to Ukraine are closely watching events there and in Washington. They heard from Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sunday, who is pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia in the wake of aggression in the region.

She hosted a town hall meeting at the Ukrainian Center in Minneapolis where the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine joined in via Skype.

Ukrainians are marking the third anniversary of Russias annexation of Crimea, it was a move western countries called illegal.

Three years later, tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to flare, particularly in eastern Ukraine, where the government is battling Russian-backed separatists.

There are really two major challenges right now, said Amb. Marie Yovanovich. The first is the war in the east and that is an existential struggle for Ukraine. I can't put it starkly enough.

Yovanonvich said the other challenge is a need for continued reform of institutions in the country, otherwise it would continue to be vulnerable to Russian interference.

Klobuchar traveled to Ukraine in December to meet with officials and see the problem firsthand.

I stood there on the front lines with the troops, she said. They've lost 10,000 Ukrainians in just the last few years since Russia invaded.

Klobuchar's office estimates Minnesota has one of the highest Ukrainian populations in the country, at 10,000 people.

They know if you just say to Russia, Hey go ahead do whatever you want, sanctions off, they're going to lose a good chunk of their country, she said.

Klobuchar is pushing for more sanctions on Russia and an independent commission to investigate alleged Russian interference with the 2016 election, in addition to probes from several government agencies and congressional committees.

In just the past few months, Ukraine's had 6,500 attempts at hacking into their system by trolls and others in Russia and so, it's no surprise that we also saw it in Lithuania, we saw it in Estonia, and that we've seen in America, it's a modus operandi, Klobuchar said.

Officials with the Trump administration deny anyone with the campaign had inappropriate contact with Russia before the election.

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Sen. Klobuchar holds Minneapolis town hall on Ukraine, Russia tensions - KMSP-TV