Gleb Pavlovsky, a communications adviser contracted by the Kremlin administration to pursue Russia’s interest in Ukraine, said: “There is a war of nerves going on at the moment [between Russia and the west]. If the EU does not recognise Yanukovich as a legitimate president, it could lead to a direct confrontation with Russia.”

Until recently the Kremlin pursued an ambivalent foreign policy declaring its long-term common interests with Europe while also trying to strengthen its ties with the former Soviet republics. However, the elections in Ukraine clarified Russia’s position.

“This is the first time since the end of the Soviet Union that the interest of Russia and the interest of the west clashed so openly. The west is not used to a strong Russian state pursuing its interests. Let it get used to it,” said Vyacheslav Nikonov, a political analyst close to the Kremlin.

Ask yourself: Who is paying for the upkeep of all these highly organized protestors ? Who paid for all the pre-vote polling data that is supposed to prove the final election false ? The answer is: a potpourri of non-Ukrainian outsiders who want to get in the ground level when their man is in power.

Finally, for all of those who think its only about US and NGO love of democracy and nothing else, pose the following question:

Would the US and EU openly and straightforwardly commit to refrain from pushing for a Ukraine within NATO - as this would allay greatly the fears of those who note less than benevolent intentions on outside organizations supporting the orange movement.

The answer is: of course not !

You present a mirror image, of the pro-Orange side’s opinions. You write some hilarious stuff like:

“I have yet to see concrete evidence of Russian interference.”

Oh, when you don’t floow the events… Let’s just look at where the fish stinks from, its head. Head, that is Putin. Putin visited Ukraine a few days before the election and openly campaigned for Yanukovych.

This and other stuff you wrote is too off for you to maintain you just warn this is not a B&W situation.

What do you mean?

I personally have grown very sceptical whenever someone mentions ‘need to’ with regards to an economic policy. (And I witnessed/witness further plans for restructuring at home.)

I know it is the latest “right on” cause for left and right alike to unite on, but it just isn’t as simple as everybody here seems to make out. Like it or not, one candidate is not the epitome of evil and the other is not an evil stalinist dictator who is attempting to steal an election and vote-rigging and so forth.

Sigh.

They also need to restructure a lot more if they’re going to keep going sustainably. While the Yanukovych government can take credit for recent reforms that have been passed, there are some basic changes that they’re unwilling to make. Yushchenko will do it far better (if he’s allowed to…)

While I don’t agree with BC’s and malcolm’s mirror-image simplicist BS, the above is not true either. Investment in Ukraine has risen sharply, too. As it happens, that investment came mostly from the oligarchs, which blurs our B&W picture a bit. Further blurring comes from the fact that Yushchenko, when he was PM, pushed through a round of privatisation - benefitting the oligarchs.

Yes, I am getting a bit fed up with the “The People = The Oranges!” vs. “They’re CIA Fronts!” discussions on the subject.