EDITORIAL CARTOONS: And now, smuggled strawberries

The tensions that have been building up at the Ukraine-Russia border seem far away. But Asia can hardly look away, if only because the situation has the potential to hijack the attention and resources of its close economic and strategic partner. Over 120,000 Russian troops are amassed on the freezing border where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine’s Western-backed forces since 2014. Amid the seven-year stand-off, President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russia had no room to retreat and its hand would be forced unless the West dropped its “aggressive” line. To the United States and Nato, Moscow’s stance and demands, which include security guarantees, are clear non-starters.