What did 21 March 2018 show about the region?

What was happening in Ukraine and its neighbourhood on 21 March 2018? On that date, Poland's Foreign Minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, accused the European Union of "double standards" and of suffering "a deficit of democracy". Poland and the European Commission were then engaged in disputes over migrant quotas and over a proposed reform of Poland's judiciary.

Kyiv reshuffles in the days before

In the days leading up to 21 March, Kyiv had made several changes. On 15 March 2018, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Valeriia Hontareva as head of the National Bank of Ukraine and appointed Yakiv Smolii in her place.

On 16 March 2018, President Petro Poroshenko appointed Serhii Naiev as commander of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new body had been created to replace the Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters.

On 15 March 2018, the president also signed amendments to the law on the social and legal protection of servicemen and their families. The changes addressed what was described as social injustice in military personnel's right to receive cash compensation for renting housing.

Sanctions on Russian nationals

On 15 March 2018, the Trump administration imposed financial sanctions on 19 Russian nationals under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Twelve of them were among those indicted in the Special Counsel investigation. The act, which targets Iran, North Korea and Russia, had been signed into law on 2 August 2017 after passing the Senate 98–2 and the House 419–3. President Donald Trump signed it while believing the legislation to be "seriously flawed".

A day in context

Taken together, the reports show the situation as of 21 March 2018: Ukraine adjusting its central bank leadership, military command and soldiers' housing support, Washington widening sanctions on Russian individuals, and Warsaw openly challenging Brussels over democracy and double standards.