Crimea, Where Friendly Gestures Are Not What They Seem

Ukraine formally resumed its supply of electricity to Crimea on Dec. 8, ending what had been a nearly three-week cutoff. In an official press statement, the Russian Ministry of Energy acknowledged the resumption of flows and noted that the peninsula was receiving 160 megawatts of electricity. While the development may appear to be a sign of improving ties between Ukraine and Russia, the timing, manner and context in which it occurred actually point to a very different conclusion....