But I hope that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has
one more dramatic surprise in store for the nation ahead of the Vilnius Summit
on Nov. 28-29.
I hope he goes out tomorrow at 1 p.m. on European Square to
speak directly with demonstrators who are protesting his government’s decision
to abandon a political and free trade pact with the European Union. The deal
was supposed to have been signed at the summit in Lithuania.
Yanukovych should order parliament into session to pass the remaining
laws required from the EU for such an agreement. He should pardon ex-Prime
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko immediately and unconditionally, setting her free
from prison to get medical treatment in Germany.
He should then rally the nation to help Ukraine withstand
the expected trade embargoes and other pressure that Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin
will apply to the nation for daring to stray too far from the post-Soviet fold.
Since the government led by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on
Nov. 21 formally abandoned the nation’s EU drive, shocking the public into action and launching the EuroMaidan protests under way, Ukrainians have clearly shown
Yanukovych that they want a reversal. They have clearly shown they want to
align with the West and to become a prospering democracy. As an American, I
share those aims for Ukraine. There is no governing model in Russia or in most
of the former Soviet Union to emulate.
Yanukovych would at once move the tide of public opinion
back in his favor, ensure the continuing support of the European Union and the
United States and significantly enhance his now-weak chances for reelection in
2015.
These steps would require bravery, courage and putting the
nation’s interests first. But without such an about-face, Yanukovych’s
popularity is destined to keep plunging with the temperatures in coming months.
Kyiv Post chief editor
Brian Bonner can be reached at [email protected]
