At a time when Ukraine needs all the friends it can get, its political leaders and diplomats seem to be going about it the wrong way. No matter which direction a person turns, Ukraine is enmeshed in serious disputes with many nations.

On Feb. 28, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry blasted European Union Ambassador Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira for daring to criticize Ukraine’s dismal business climate and politically motivated prosecutions of opposition leaders, the imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko among them.

The ministry called Teixeira’s comments outside the bounds of diplomacy, saying he “was trying to participate in Ukrainian internal political processes and public discourse.” The EU’s Catherine Ashton shot back, showing a widening rift.

We agree with Teixeira, who represents a 27-nation bloc that Ukraine is trying to enter. It’s his duty to assess the nation’s democratic failings and challenges that are holding up its European aspirations.

Ukraine’s democratic regression under President Viktor Yanukovych has strained its relations with many nations, including the United States. The Czech Republic sees the same problems.

Ukraine’s democratic regression under President Viktor Yanukovych has strained its relations with many nations, including the United States.

Its leaders granted asylum to two prominent citizens, former Prime Minister Tymoshenko’s economic minister Bohdan Danylyshyn and her husband, Oleksandr.

Ukraine is fighting wars on other fronts. It remains embroiled in disputes with Russia over natural gas and the quality of Ukraine’s cheese.

Russia has banned imports from several plants, saying the quality of the cheese has been diluted by palm oil.

To the north, Ukraine started up a spat with Belarus by banning imports of its milk and pork, also citing safety reasons. These disputes should be settled by scientific testing.

Instead, they erupt into political scandals, emblematic of the distrust, suspicion and vested interests on both sides.

If the world suffered “Ukraine fatigue” because of the fighting when ex-President Viktor Yushchenko and Tymoshenko were in power, leaders in many capitals are starting to suffer “Ukraine exasperation” as the Yanukovych administration launches its third year of misguided policies.

Instead of blaming the messengers, who are all seeing the same problems, Ukraine’s leaders should muster their remaining shreds of character and admit they have been fighting the wrong wars, and start to reverse the damage.