Sunday, May 27, 2007

[the ukraine] decision time has come

You've all read it:

Ukraine was in political chaos last night after President Viktor Yushchenko attempted to seize control of the national guard, prompting accusations that he was trying to stage a coup. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich accused Mr Yushchenko of preparing to use force in their struggle for supremacy after Mr Yushchenko said on Friday he was taking control of interior ministry troops.

Mr Yushchenko issued his decree hours after riot police loyal to the Prime Minister took over a building housing the prosecutor-general's office in Kiev following scuffles. The decree concerns troops largely responsible for maintaining public order and not the army, which is controlled by one of pro-Western Mr Yushchenko's few allies in the cabinet. He ordered the interior ministry troops to protect key sites.

Mr Yanukovich denounced the President's move as dangerous and unconstitutional. It presaged, he said, an attempt to use force to resolve Ukraine's long-running political crisis.

So, it's come to this. I think the country will have to split into the two roughly natural divisions it's now in. The Russian half will remain independent but loyal to Russia and the other will become an American satellite like Poland and Hungary.

Otherwise there'll be war or revolution. Hope Russia doesn't march in.

5 comments:

  1. Gosh, do you really think they might march in? - Let's hope not. Your analysis is interesting as always, James.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do think you may have been with Mother Russia a little too long, James, if you really feel "American satellite" is a reasonable characterisation of Hungary or Poland!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Welshcakes - I just think the options remain open.

    Tom - you and I live here. You can fly out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. There were pictures of them together at the football on the television last night. Are the football teams ethnically aligned?

    ReplyDelete

Comments need a moniker of your choosing before or after ... no moniker, not posted, sorry.