Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- September 2, 2014

Ukraine Rebels Say They Are Willing To Talk Peace With Kiev  -- Fred Weir, CSM

The announcement is a major step away from the rebels' previous demand for wholesale independence from Kiev, and opens the door for a federal autonomy for east Ukraine.

Moscow — East Ukraine's Russian-backed rebels now say they are willing to talk with Kiev about a political settlement that would keep Ukraine united but would grant sweeping autonomy to their war-torn regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Barely a week ago, rebel prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko insisted he would only be satisfied by full independence for the self-declared proto-state, Novorossiya. He said that living within Ukraine would be impossible after several months of bloody warfare that has displaced hundreds of thousands and probably killed far more than the official estimates of 2,600 people.

But after a week that has seen rebel forces roll back the Ukrainian sieges of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as open a new front around Mariupol, the region's second largest city, they say they're ready to negotiate.

Read more ...

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- September 2, 2014

What are Russia's plans for eastern Ukraine? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Undeclared War: Putin's Covert Invasion of Eastern Ukraine -- Benjamin Bidder, Moritz Gathmann, Christian Neef and Matthias Schepp, Spiegel Online

Rosneft President Igor Sechin: 'Russia Didn't Initiate the Ukraine Crisis' -- Interview Conducted by Gerald Traufetter and Matthias Schepp, Spiegel Online

Putin Has Done NATO A Big Favor -- John Cassidy, New Yorker

NATO's newest mission: Conquering its generation gap -- Franklin Miller and Kori Schake, L.A. Times

End of Gaza war doesn't translate into peace -- Jeffrey Heller, Reuters

Hong Kong on Edge -- Luke Hunt, The Diplomat

China Quashes Democracy in Hong Kong -- Daniel Wiser, Washington Free Beacon

A Look At Central African Republic's Sectarian Civil War -- James Verini, Slate

Why attempted coup in Lesotho presents regional dilemma -- Michael J. Jordan, CSM

ISIL’s Rise Highlights Afghan War’s Shaky Premise -- Patrick Knapp, The Diplomat

Cameron on ISIS: Tougher Talk But Still No Strategy --Rob Garver and Eric Pianin, The Fiscal Times

Was U.S. Journalist Steven Sotloff a Marked Man? -- Ben Taub, Daily Beast

What ISIS's Leader Really Wants -- Graeme Wood, New Republic

Why a strategy to fight ISIS in Syria will take time -- Mark Hertling, CNN