KYIV, Ukraine—Victor Yanukovych, to be anointed president of Ukraine on Thursday, is promising to change the country by creating a new effective coalition in Parliament and then make a range of global staffing changes. However, there’s an area where change may be more of a challenge—Ukraine’s foreign policy—despite the calls of the opposition and Western countries.
“With the coming of a new president, in Ukraine’s foreign policy there is almost a blank sheet. For six months, our country will be watched by Europe and the U.S., and we are expected to take action,” said Sergei Tigipko, head of the Strong Ukraine Party and former presidential candidate who finished third and was thus eliminated in the first round of the elections. “If after six months there are not any reforms, any real modernization of the country, Brussels and Washington will not be interested enough in us.”
There are fears that Yanukovych will not bring the much needed political reforms that would qualify Ukraine for EU or NATO admission, a reality the new president appears to be aware of.
“If we listen to the new president’s program and his public messages, he clearly and repeatedly said that the ultimate goal of his foreign policy was obtaining full membership in the European Union,” said Oleg Rybachuk, head of the Ukraine-European Union expert council and former deputy prime minister.
“With the coming of a new president, in Ukraine’s foreign policy there is almost a blank sheet. For six months, our country will be watched by Europe and the U.S., and we are expected to take action,” said Sergei Tigipko, head of the Strong Ukraine Party and former presidential candidate who finished third and was thus eliminated in the first round of the elections. “If after six months there are not any reforms, any real modernization of the country, Brussels and Washington will not be interested enough in us.”
There are fears that Yanukovych will not bring the much needed political reforms that would qualify Ukraine for EU or NATO admission, a reality the new president appears to be aware of.
“If we listen to the new president’s program and his public messages, he clearly and repeatedly said that the ultimate goal of his foreign policy was obtaining full membership in the European Union,” said Oleg Rybachuk, head of the Ukraine-European Union expert council and former deputy prime minister.
