Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

The country is quickly losing the opportunity to develop into a stable, prosperous nation due to internal squabbles that leave it vulnerable and shaky

Soviet Union. Yet the country’s persistently feuding leaders have failed to capitalize on key and achievable results that would have make Ukraine’s independence less fragile today. Infighting has delayed progress. The leaders could have better spent this time ensuring growth, energy and defense security, less corruption, and the rebuilding of educational and medical systems on the verge of collapse.

Thanks largely to market-driven, supply-demand economic forces, Ukraine put years of economic stagnation behind, replacing it with more than seven years of steady growth. True, much of this new wealth is monopolized by corrupt businessmen and politicians and has yet to spread to a budding middle class. When it does, Ukraine’s economic gains will strengthen the country more than any inspiring leader.

Ukraine’s upside is huge. The country’s potential was demonstrated this summer with a respectable showing in the Olympic Games, where the team placed 10th overall, besting prominent and powerful nations.

Kyiv has made major democratic leaps. It has also managed to avoid ethnic and military conflicts that have plagued most other ex-Soviet states.

But as recent events in Georgia show, threats remain higher than ever to statehood, the nation's borders and its success as a beacon of democracy in post-Soviet space. And the threats all stem from a preying northern neighbor, Russia.

Recent polls of Ukrainians conducted indicate that the majority of Ukrainians recognize these threats, starting with the simmering separatism in Crimea backed by Moscow. But they are heavily divided as to what solutions to support, be it early withdrawal of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet stationed on the peninsula, a cool-headed wait-and-see approach, or speedy NATO membership.

Democracies thrive on pluralism, but the splits in Ukraine on such a strategic issue are the result of confusion and orchestrated disarray. Divided, Ukraine is easy prey for Russia and its traditional “divide and conquer tactics” so successfully implemented through separatists enclaves in Georgia.

It is no surprise Ukrainians are so divided. Ukraine’s feuding leaders have failed to learn the lessons of history. Personal rivalries have defeated attempts to solidify Ukrainian independence. Take, for example, the history of the Cossack Hetmans, whose divisions left the country weak and vulnerable to predatory neighbors.

The Georgia conflict with Russia provided a time to unify. Instead, Ukraine’s president, prime minister and leading oppositionists pointed fingers at each other seeking to polarize the populace. President Victor Yushchenko’s administration went so far as to accuse Premier Yulia Tymoshenko of being soft on Georgia due to a putative secret pact with the Kremlin. The response from Tymoshenko’s camp was denial, and a pledge to refrain from scoring points “on the blood of Georgian soldiers.” The Moscow-friendly Victor Yanukovych, meanwhile, stood on the sidelines flaring up pro-Russian sentiment in eastern Ukraine and taking sides with the Kremlin against Georgia, Ukraine’s pro-Western ally.

It is hard to decipher what is in Tymoshenko’s mind, due to her superb acting. But her diehard presidential ambitions are clear, as are her attempts to clean up Ukraine’s corrupt energy sector and free it of Russian tentacles.

We did expect more, however, from the democratically elected Yushchenko. His administration has sparked many of the divisive attacks on his former ally Tymoshenko. The move could plunge Ukraine into chaos and break apart its pro-Western coalition. The charge against Tymoshenko is that she sacrificed national interests in return for Kremlin support of her expected presidential candidacy in 2010. Yet, strangely, while his deputies make accusations of treason, Yushchenko has remained silent. is administration claims to have handed evidence of wrongdoing to the secret service and prosecutors. Yet Yushchenko, during Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 24, called for politicians to unite and end infighting.

Until we see evidence, we agree with recent polls that suggest the president’s camp is using such accusations against Tymoshenko to boost his scant chances against her in the presidential elections.

Unless reliable evidence comes forth, we urge Yushchenko to muzzle his assistants and put his own ambitions aside. He should unify Ukraine behind the principles and goals that his Orange Revolution candidacy represented. Only this will make Ukraine’s independence less fragile and produce a united leadership able to meet deep challenges ahead.