What's In Store For Ukraine's Future?

[stepanstas]

Albatross,

Maybe he is alone because he is one of the few politicians who has not stolen from and not munipulated the Ukrainian people. Just a thought.

What do you expect him to do? Just as an example.

[peter3030]

Europe has shown it CAN influence the directions of a country-If we look at the Czech Republik,Romania,Poland,Hungary etc they have all seen growth after being given money and resources
I dont believe Europe have been so quick to give the same to Ukraine (lets forget about the IMF money for now)

The problems lie in Ukraines strategic position and having to live in the shadows of its past-its become almost impossible to move forward from political socia and economicaly from Moscow.
Maybe there have been changes in opinion but theres been little change in infastructure economic investment and developementin the same ways we have seen in other countries.
Gazprom have been happy to give out fines for late payments of gas-and yet can be accused of ripping Naftogas off too.
Gazprom are quick to compare European prices with what Ukraine pays-but are pretty silent on other issues-for example the European going rate for underground gas storage per 100 metres is $120.
Gazprom pay Naftogas just $5 for this....thats one hell of a difference.
As a Brit with friends who have partners and relatives in Ukraine I can say that most of those are understanding of a couple of things.
Firstly that its no secret that the arm twisting from Moscow and Medverov (Gazproms ex boss )....has much deeper rhetoric than the outstanding Gas accounts.Russia chooses to use political pawns and leverage from anything she can - its always been the same.
Most Europeans are not clear on the politics of Ukraine-but they do know that Russia is not a country that can be trusted.
Its expected that Yulia will be heading off to Moscow any day soon to do a deal with Putin.
She can then return victorious to Kiev and resume her efforts to remove Viktor.
Will the Ukranians fall for it ????
I am not sure they will.
Meanwhile its no timely coincedence that the Gazprom head announces plans to run 2 new pipelines outside of Ukraine.
They have asked for Europes blessing for the plans.
Talk about throwing spanners in the works ?
I am sure that most will see through this plot and will not want to see revenues or isolation taken away from Ukraine.
But as always-we have some weak member states who refuse to give their vote in fear of upsetting the bear.
Poland and the Czech Republik should both remember how Russia treated them.
Yes we are in 2009 but Putins revival of glory worship for Stalin,his obsession with rebuilding the old armies air force and navy,and his continued efforts to equip terrorist and rogue states with Russian nuclear weapons-bears all the hallmarks of the old soviet past.Most will remember the dispute in 2006,but few will know that part of the deal to clear arrears was for Ukraine to return a couple of old TUV Blackjack Niuclear bombers to Russia.
They obviously had other plans for these-specifically to resume their patrols alonfg the English Coast.Since these were returned the RAF and Norwegian air force have had to chase them off within British air space no less than 6 times-the most recent in December.


Another thing we should look at is Russias threats to global energy market supplies.
Gazprom currently supply a third of all world gas.Europe relies on 25% of that.
Last month in a conference on energy-Putin stated that the end was here for cheap gas-it had to rise.
Yet Gazprom announced profits for the first half of 2008 of $400 m.....they can hardly say they are losing money !
Truth is they have a monopoly which is why Europe is looking for alternative sources from other Gas producing countries.
But in the last 12 months its become clear that Moscow has been cosying up to these other countries - it does not take rocket science to work out what they are up to.
But Oil prices rose by 4% when Russia announced the switch off to Ukraine.
You can be pretty sure therefore that Russia will not want to see a speedy end to the dispute-since they are likely to fall back a little once its resolved-and Russia knows it.

So while the dirty double act of Putin and Medverov continue to blame Ukraine for all its problems-theres still the question of trying to form some sort of stability within the political arena.
No one seems to have any answers-and there are too many sitting on the fence observing.
The West has a duty to see that Ukraine is not alone and should give them all the help and support it needs to achieve this.

Personally I would like to have seen Bush give them the money for the gas-as a leaving present......I have no doubt that would have wiped the smirk off Putins face.....but more importantly given Ukranians some heat.

[stepanstas]

Personally I do not support money handouts that much. I think we have to make sure the money will go to the right place and I don't think that is possible in Ukraine yet. I believe in the dependency theory, if you give money to a country as apposed to helping them in the long term, it will do no good.

Ukraine has a lot of problems, way to many to be controled by a single president. The government has to come together, but it's hard to see that happening because most people are in it to rip the country off.

[Lvivske]

i agree, stepan

[bubyshka]

interesting reading you guys.... I agree having russia as a neighbor would be so hard. and keeping their nose out of ukrainian business would be difficult too as yulia seems to like to go there fairly often...is she toying with them, or what. GGGezzz i don't trust that woman..Looking like the innocent, ukrianian lady....... ah sorry i know nothing bout it all......but i'm doing lots of reading. I find it all interesting....as all my roots are still in ukraine. I wish her well.....Hang in there Ukraine. the recessions going to be tough on you i see!!!

[stepanstas]

She knows how to lie well. Think about it. During the Orange Revolution she was the symbol. It was said that she did many things like setting up the protests because Yuschenko couldn't. Not because he didn't want to, but because someone running for president just could not do things like that. Then, I think not even a week passed that she tried to steal money. She has to stay in office for now because she is better than Yanukovich and at least half decent. I don't think anyone else can get majority.