As I mentioned in my previous article, Ukraine is going through tough times as EU agreement have been halted by the President Viktor Yanukovych. The protests have spread out in different cities in Europe. I have witnessed one of those protests in Holland Park in London on 1st December. There was a group of people holding Ukraine flags and banners supporting the EU alliance. People were screaming and yelling against government and Russian intervention. In Kiev, the protest movement reached to the point that protesters blocked the entrances of government building and called the government and Yanukovych to resign.
Yanukovych and the government seem to have economic concerns for the country as Ukraine have serious problems about its current account deficit. The concrete basis of the government to suspend EU talks is justifiable at some point. On the other hand, Ukrainians are more interested in establishing a closer association and ties with EU. It could be concluded that Ukrainians are looking for a new identity within their integration in EU. Politicians in Ukraine try to avoid a second Orange Revolution as they warned pro-Europeans especially to stop the protests. Even western media have been blamed to trigger the events in Kiev. The government seems to have failed to handle the crisis and unity since the beginning of the protests.
While the political crisis intensifies in Kiev, regional actors joined the dispute. Germany, supporting Eastern Partnership and integration of Ukraine, warned Russia not to interfere with Ukraine’s decisions and interests. Angela Merkel made a clear warning to Russia about the issue. The protest movement in Kiev have gained a clear support from Germany. Will Yanukovych challenge against EU or cooperate to meet the demands of majority in Ukraine? The policy map in Ukraine might get affected by EU’s demands in the forthcoming days.
