Sunday
28 february 2010
16:07
Why did Putin and Medvedev ignore Yanukovych inauguration?
Despite the widespread myths, neither Putin nor Medvedev backed up Yanukovych in the presidential election. They would rather see Yulia Tymoshenko as president, says Stanislav Belkovsky from Russia Institute of National Strategy, UNIAN reported Feb. 27.There are three reasons why both Russian leaders didn’t show up in Kyiv.
Firstly, Kremlin views Yanukovych as a weak and inconsistent politician who had suffered 2 major flops. The first one was in 2004 when Yanukovych surrendered a president’s post he had in his pocket - without struggle. The second one happened in 2007 when Yanukovych agreed, without any apparent legal reason, to a snap parliamentary election.
Secondly, the Russian gave Yanukovych a cold shoulder because 2 years ago Putin had struck a deal with Tymoshenko regarding the major business of his life, gas. Meanwhile, the election of Yanukovych indicates at least a partial revising of the deal. Understandably, some of Yanukovych insiders are eager to stage a comeback to the gas market. One of them, Serhy Liovochkin, was appointed head of Yanukovych office. They will push for changes on the gas market, causing a pain in the neck for Gazprom, Kremlin and Putin, something they are loath to see happen.
Thirdly, in case of Tymoshenko win, all power in Ukraine could be concentrated in one hand. It makes it easier for Kremlin to negotiate with the regimes where decision-making is done by a single person. Now, Moscow will have to negotiate with various political forces.
For these three reasons the Kremlin had a liking for Tymoshenko, though without any open support. But the Russian leaders kept their fingers crossed for a Tymoshenko win.
There was no enthusiasm in Russia when Yuanukovych won, and it was reflected in the level of delegation. However, the estrangement didn’t go unnoticed by the Yanukovych team, when Yanukovych jabbed Duma Speaker Borys Gryzlov, playing on his notorious declaration that the parliament is no place for discussions.
Currently, the Kremlin will wait for the formation of a new cabinet in Ukraine, with Tymoshenko sending a signal that she may retain her post.
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zmolo.com
Yanukovych term as PM was not bad. he washed in check by Moroz who had a good understanding of how government should work. Free from these constraints it is difficult to see how we will perform as president. If he engages Yushchenko in anyway and has in fact cut a deal with him then this is a clear sign that he is not going to fulfill his promises. Any deal to involve Our Ukraine as coalition partners will only mean ongoing political instability.