Viktor Yanukovych promises Ukraine will embrace Russia

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

Viktor Yanukovych promises Ukraine will embrace Russia
New president's inaugural Moscow visit appears to usher in new era between countries
Luke Harding in Moscow guardian.co.uk,
Friday 5 March 2010 17.43 GMT

The new president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, has promised a dramatic improvement in relations with Russia during his first official visit to Moscow.

Speaking after a meeting with his counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, Yanukovych said he would perform a sharp U-turn on the polices pursued by his predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, whose pro-west and pro-Nato stance infuriated the Kremlin.

Welcoming him warmly, Medvedev said Yanukovych's election victory meant that the "brotherly ties" between Ukraine and Russia could now be restored. He added that the venomous stand-off between Moscow and Kiev following the 2004 Orange Revolution – a "dark streak", as Medvedev put it – was now over.

Yanukovych's trip followed a visit on Monday to Brussels. He appears to be engaged in a delicate diplomatic balancing act between Ukraine's giant western and eastern neighbours. Asked why he had gone to see the EU first, Yanukovych declared simply that the Europeans had invited him earlier.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/ukraine-russia-relations-viktor-yanukovych

[Flaneur]

1. Sphere of influence politics. Like Canada not pissing off the US.

[Posteritatis]

2. Harper and Yanukovych both want to be good little puppets. (nt)

[Go2Peace]

3. And Yuschenko wasn't? Yanokovich is not a perfect candidate

But there is a good chance he will at least listen to the People of Ukraine and attempt to make life better for them, rather than Yuschenko who was just the Ukrainian version of a corporate Republican.

I wonder how many on this board know that the "Republican" Party has an international organization and goes to other countries attempting to create similar parties there? That was Yuschenko, the previous President. He is married to a high profile American Republican.

LOL, the wife of the former President of Ukraine is a American Republican Operative.... World politics are fascinating.

[Igel]

6. Ooh.

So that means we really *should* be spanking Cuba. Harder.

[WriteDown]

4. Who wouldn't listen to Putin? He defeats tigers single-handedly...

and has his own judo videos.

[Rapier09]

5. Better Russia takes Ukraine under its wing

Then it does Cuba,Venezuela or Argentina.

I always find it interesting how the US seeks to erode the Post-Soviet influence in the Eastern reaches of Europe;yet will do absolutely nothing to stop it in Latin America.

That is basic ostrich behavior BTW.

[Kolesar]

7. What this means is that Ukraine loses soveriegnty to Russia

With Vladimir Putin as the power behind Russia.