
Those fears may be proved right, after all. The often-overlooked struggle between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Europe’s liberal states for influence in Central and Eastern Europe has now resulted in the most serious Ukrainian crisis since the 2004 Orange Revolution. Buckling under to Putin’s relentless pressure, Yanukovich last week scrapped a free-trade negotiation with the European Union that was considered a central piece of the country’s larger turn toward the West. Over a week of protests in response have erupted, but the capital is currently besieged by hundreds of thousands of protesters, who are facing increasingly violent riot police. The very latest news says that Yanukovich is now reconsidering the trade pact, after all. This makes the situation even more volatile, yet moving in the right direction.
At least three quick observations come to mind while the clash plays out:
1. Ukrainians clearly want a more liberal society and ties to the rest of Europe. Yanukovich campaigned on closer ties to Europe, despite concerns over his weakness vis-á-vis Moscow, and his about-face is what has outraged protesters. This is a good sign, but it cannot be simply appreciated by the West. European governments need to do more to show solidarity with democratically-inclined Ukrainians and make this a defining issue for the future of liberalism in Europe.
(Click link below to read more)
READ MORE Sphere: Related Content
No comments:
Post a Comment