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Post by tufta on Sept 16, 2010 14:04:23 GMT 1
The Mortgaging of Ukraine’s Independence James Sherr Russia and Eurasia Programme | August 2010 | The whole text is here www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/17149_bp0810_sherr.pdfIt is 20 pages long (or short) and worth reading, every word of it. I was already starting to assume that in the non-postsoviet countries there are no analysts who fully understand the problems of this part of Europe, including - or most of all, Ukraine. I was wrong. At least that is a liitle reassuring in this sad process we are witnessing East from Poland. Here are the main points cited directly from James Sherr's paper Summary points In signing the Kharkiv Accords with Russia in April 2010, President Yanukovych compromised important elements of Ukraine’s independence for the sake of internal consolidation and short-term economic and political gains. These concessions have increased Russian pressure rather than defused it. The gas subsidy and the accompanying agreement to prolong the lease of the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea ensure that Ukraine’s relations with Russia will continue to be structured by opaque practices, economic dependency and limited diplomatic and geopolitical options for Ukraine, and make it more difficult to pursue urgent reforms. At the same time Ukraine’s security cooperation with NATO has been downgraded, and there are worrying infringements of democratic and civil freedoms. The European Union, the US and NATO should not confuse respect for Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose its political course with indifference to the consequences both for Ukraine and European security. The short-sightedness of Ukraine’s current approach will soon become evident to Yanukovych and his advisers. The EU and international institutions should stand ready to offer a convincing package of alternatives. At present, however, the US and Europe lack a clear definition of interests vis-à-vis Ukraine, a set of concrete aspirations and a strategy for promulgating and realizing them. The IMF has set a model of tough but constructive conditionality that others should follow. Above all, the EU should consider offering Ukraine a long-term membership perspective on a similar tightly conditional basis and revise its position on visa liberalization. |
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 16, 2010 18:53:26 GMT 1
A few years ago, during the Orange revolution against, among others, Russian domination in Ukraine, Ukrainians seemed to be willing to join Europe and become a modern society. I was an optimist.
Yet, the glory days passed and grey reality took over. Today`s Ukraine is further from Europe than it ever was and the process of alienation is deepening.
The situation is tricky. Russia would be stupid not to take advantage of the influence it has in Ukraine. It is natural and all countries do such things. Therefore, Russian pressure on Ukraine won`t cease, it can only strengthen.
Let us remember that Ukrainians have always prefered to go with Russians against Poles than vice versa. For most Ukrainians we are alien neighbours from the West, while Russians are brothers from the East.
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Post by tufta on Sept 16, 2010 21:05:17 GMT 1
Knowing many Ukrainians, knowing their culture and history, knowing their sins against Poland, as well as Polish sins against them, being engaged in several Polish-Ukrainian projects, I have to very strongly, even fundamentally, disagree.
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Post by tufta on Sept 16, 2010 21:07:17 GMT 1
Knowing many Ukrainians, knowing their culture and history, knowing their sins against Poland, as well as Polish sins against them, being engaged in several Polish-Ukrainian projects, I have to very strongly, even fundamentally, disagree. I disagree with the statement "For most Ukrainians we are alien neighbours from the West". For a very small group of hooray-soviet-Ukrainians yes we are. |
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 19, 2011 21:48:58 GMT 1
Poland is trying hard to attract Ukraine into European structures. Without Ukraine, Russia won`t be able to revive the Empire which has always threatened the existence of our country.
It seems that only Poles do care about what will happen to Ukraine.
Komorowski in Kiev for EU agreement talks
19.04.2011 12:42
President Bronisław Komorowski is paying a visit to Kiev later today, where he is to discuss with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich the state of negotiations on Ukraine’s association agreement with the EU.
President Komorowski hopes the agreement will be signed in the second half of the year, during Poland’s EU presidency.
He is also to declare Warsaw’s readiness to contribute to the work of an experts’ group which is to help Ukraine implement the Action Plan aimed at introducing visa-free travel to EU countries.
Mr Komorowski is to reiterate an invitation to Mr Yanukovich to attend a meeting of the presidents of Central European countries in Warsaw at the end of May, which US president Barack Obama will be attending.
The organization of the Euro 2012 football championships, which is to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, is also on the agenda.
At an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster, the Polish President is also to decelerate Poland’s contribution to the Chernobyl fund.
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 23, 2013 22:35:26 GMT 1
Knowing many Ukrainians, knowing their culture and history, knowing their sins against Poland, as well as Polish sins against them, being engaged in several Polish-Ukrainian projects, I have to very strongly, even fundamentally, disagree. I disagree with the statement "For most Ukrainians we are alien neighbours from the West". For a very small group of hooray-soviet-Ukrainians yes we are. Yes, I exaggerated but today I don`t know why.  Poland continually backs up Ukraine no matter what her leaders are: Poland pledges support for Ukraine ahead of EU summit
21.02.2013 13:56
Ahead of the Ukraine-EU summit on 25 February, President Bronislaw Komkorowski has said Poland will “help Ukraine finalize the European Union associate agreement” at a meeting between Ukraine, Polish and Slovakian heads of state. [...] www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/127939,Poland-pledges-support-for-Ukraine-ahead-of-EU-summit |
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 14, 2016 22:27:24 GMT 1
For most Ukrainians we are alien neighbours from the West, while Russians are brothers from the East. It seems I was wrong or times have changed. Ukrainians most positive about Poland: report
14.01.2016 12:26
Ukrainians like Poland more than any other country, while they like Russia the least, according to a new report.
A survey published by the Kiev-based Reytynh (Rating) sociological research group found that 58 percent of respondents said they felt positive about Poland.
Meanwhile, 35 percent had neutral feelings about Poland. Only four percent were negative about Poland, and one percent were very negative.
Poland has proved a staunch supporter of Kiev in its struggle against pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
After Poland, Ukrainians felt most positive about Belarus, the EU, Georgia, Lithuania, Canada, Germany and the United States,
They felt least positive about Russia, with which Ukraine has been in conflict following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.- See more at: www.thenews.pl/1/11/Artykul/236471,Ukrainians-most-positive-about-Poland-report#sthash.v1BjxpJN.dpuf The Polish support for independent Ukraine has been steady for years and it doesn`t seem to be likely to change in the future. |
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Post by jeanne on Jan 14, 2016 22:35:38 GMT 1
The Polish support for independent Ukraine has been steady for years and it doesn`t seem to be likely to change in the future. "For our freedom and for yours..." |
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 14, 2016 23:15:20 GMT 1
The Polish support for independent Ukraine has been steady for years and it doesn`t seem to be likely to change in the future. "For our freedom and for yours..." Poles have eventually learnt (on their past mistakes) that free Ukraine secures free Poland. The only problem is that economically today`s Ukraine is doing very poorly. Will they be able to survive as a free country? |
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Post by pjotr on Jan 15, 2016 13:45:28 GMT 1
A referendum on the approval of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine will be held in the Netherlands on 6 April 2016. The referendum question will be: " Are you for or against the Approval Act of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine?" The decision to hold a referendum was made after more than 427,000 valid requests were received within six weeks, more than the required number of 300,000 requests. The referendum will be suspensory and non-binding, which means that the law's provisions on entry into force are suspended at least until the referendum was held. If the Approval Act is rejected, the States General has to enact a follow-up law to either repeal the Act or put it into effect after all. The referendum is the first since the enactment of the Advisory Referendum Act (Wet raadgevend referendum) on 1 July 2015. The Dutch Government will be campaigning in favour of the Agreement. Mark Rutte said that it is good for the European Union and the Netherlands and not to be seen as a first step to Ukraine's EU membership, saying: " We are a trading nation. We live by free trade agreements and Ukraine is another example of this [...] People who are inclined to vote No think it's a first step to EU membership. It has nothing to do with accession." In an Opinion polling of current affairs programme Eén Vandaag (OneToday) a broadcast on the Dutch public television network Nederland 1, 51% of the questioned voted against the the Association Agreement, 13% in favor of it and undecided 36%. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Ukraine%E2%80%93European_Union_Association_Agreement_referendum,_2016 Fact is that a lot of Dutch people don't have an identification with Ukraine and most only know Ukraine due to the plane crash with the MH17. And what people hear and believe is that the Eastern-European country is corrupt, criminal and poor. They don't want a second Romania and Bulgaria in the EU. Next to that a lot of people believe that via Ukraine Russia will infiltrate into the EU. Not only in Poland there is aversion towards Putin and the Russian Federation. The Netherlands is another one.
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Post by pjotr on Jan 15, 2016 14:18:16 GMT 1
The Incoming Dutch Presidency of the Council will also have to deal with issues like Ukraine, Poland and the refugee crisis.
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