TODAY: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova sign EU pact; Russia bothered and not bothered, depending on source; Glazyev calls Poroshenko a ‘Nazi’; Kudrin to head Moscow Exchange; Merkel makes second call to Putin, Kerry issues warning; LUKoil head says sanctions taking their toll; Justice Ministry to ban home births; Putin mob links book to be published.

In a decisive turn away from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova will sign a key accord with the European Union today, the same one that sparked the current Ukrainian crisis when ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych failed to sign it in November.  The signing date of the accord was moved up ‘because of the risk of the Russians perhaps derailing or creating high levels of tensions in both Moldova and Georgia in the run up to signature,’ says one analyst.  Russia has said it may raise tariffs on Ukrainian imports in response to the deal, which it fears will see EU exports finding their way into Russia duty-free, via Ukraine.  Other Russian sources say any backlash from Moscow has nothing to do with the economic aspects of the deal, but rather the fact that it looks like ‘European expansionism into [Russia’s] traditional sphere of influence.’  Sergei Glazyev, an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, says Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is a ‘Nazi’ for endorsing the ‘illegitimate’ deal.  Former Finance Minister, prominent liberal voice, and free market champion Alexei Kudrin has been appointed the new head of Moscow’s Exchange.