Ukraine has postponed a central European regional summit after at least eight European heads of state refused to attend in protest at the jailing and alleged mistreatment of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the Financial Times reported on May 8.
According to the report, the postponement and boycotts by European leaders of Euro 2012 games to be held in Ukraine are major blows for Viktor Yanukovych. The Ukrainian president finds himself increasingly isolated amid claims that he is "cementing power by persecuting rivals and eroding democracy," according to the Financial Times.
“These are signs of lack of trust and a move towards international isolation of Ukraine’s leadership,” Valeriy Chaly, deputy director of Razumkov, the Kyiv-based think tank, told the Financial Times.
Financial Times: Ukraine postpones summit amidst boycotts, move towards ‘isolation’
Last year's central European summit was held in Poland and attended by 20 leaders, including U.S. Presidennt Barack Obama.
