Olga Kozlova
Architect from Moscow

“It was a surprise for me that President Viktor Yanukovych has been criticized by both the West and Russia. Putin is just showing off. But their mutual efforts can work. Yanukovych will yield.”

Wladimir Kanchenko
Radio­physicist

“European governments had been giving diplomatic signals to Kyiv for a long time that it the situation is wrong. The next step is for certain Ukrainian officials to know that they are not eligible to travel abroad and that their secret bank accounts are blocked. They will be in isolation, but not Ukraine.”


Yekaterina Golyanich
Business­woman

“Europe is trying to influence Yanukovych, but the question is whether they are doing it the right way. One should by no means mix politics and football. The case of Tymoshenko is the political one. Euro 2012 should be left alone.”

Oleksandr Makodzeba
Student

“I’m sick and tired that politicians are getting into football. I’m sure football supporters will come all the same, and they don’t care whether Angela Merkel will visit Ukraine or not.”


Anna Cher­nyavska
Student

“Let Euro 2012 run as it is to be. If the West wants to punish Ukrainian officials, it should apply sanctions against them like they did against Belarus bureaucrats. Only these steps will have a strong impact on Kyiv in observing human rights standards. The time to pass from words to deeds came long ago.”