Ukraine crisis: Opposition rejects offer of PM post
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25900267Ukrainian leadership refused to enter into a trade agreement with the EU in December of last year, which spurred protests in the capital and in other cities around the country. The decision behind not joining EU was because of the significant pressure from Russia. This was initially an economic issue because the agreement would have allowed Ukraine to eliminate trade barriers with EU countries. Russia in order to influence the deal warned Ukrainian government of canceling contracts and agreements set up by two countries. While, this would have been harmful to Ukraine's initial growth and unemployment, in a long run, it would have been beneficial as Ukraine would have been able to trade goods and services on the open market and become independent from Russia.
Furthermore this standoff between the government and opposition revealed corruption and significant abuse of power at the top of the governing body. As the protests progressed it has become a fight for more transparency of Ukrainian government and freedom from politico-criminal nexus that occupied the government. The West has been discussing an option of freezing accounts of politicians and oligarchs, who were proven to be involved in corrupt activities. Neither the EU or the US have done so yet, which points to a strong lobbying influence.
Ukraine is facing a very difficult challenge. Young generation of educated and democratically-minded people made it clear that they want the future full of economic opportunities, and free and fair government.
1 comment:
My first impression of the protests was that nothing much would be accomplished. Thus far, very little has been accomplished. However, to be effective, the protests will need to last. Now while the Ukrainian people must have the right to protest, the protests almost seem to have past that bridge. The protests are now violent, although there have been few casualties there has been destruction of property, and fighting against the security forces using weapons such as trebucets, slings, molotov cocktails and clublike weapons. I hope that the extreme actions the protesters are taking will not have been for nothing and that there will be real change for Ukraine coming.
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