The Rundown -- February 17

# Guardian cites RFE/RL interview with Ivan Krastev

# Peter Pomerantsev's family ties to RFE/RL mentioned in New York Times profile

# Russian crooner Iosif Kobzon sanctioned -- a profile

# Kremlin making itself felt in Europe

# "The American Education of Vladimir Putin" - Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy, Atlantic

# VKontakte takes some steps towards copyright respect

# Despite ceasefire, heavy clashes continue in Debaltseve; Russian control of main road seems to spell doom

# "Escape from Debaltseve: How One Convoy Made It Out of Ukraine's Besieged City" - Alec Luhn, Vice

# Could giving Ukraine weapons make for a quicker peace?

# Timothy Garton Ash: "a Syria in Europe" possible as long as Putin controls eastern Ukraine

# Romania sends ambulances to Moldova in tug-of-war with Russia

# Egyptian jets strike IS targets in Libya after mass execution video

# U.S. intensifies efforts against IS propaganda

# BBC Video: Room for optimism in Baghdad?

# "What ISIS Really Wants" - Graeme Wood, Atlantic

# China's foreign minister pushes Iran on nuclear deal

# "Washington’s Third Option Against a Nuclear Iran" - Raymond Tanter, Foreign Policy

# Netanyahu may have leaked U.S. secrets to harm Iran negotiations

Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan kills female politician