Ukraine coalition collapses under Russian pressure

The Telegraph ^

[maquiladora]

Ukraine's ruling coalition collapsed last night under the weight of Russian pressure designed to weaken Western allies in the former Soviet Union.

President Victor Yushchenko angrily denounced his former ally, the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for siding with the pro-Russian opposition in a series of parliamentary votes.

"Yesterday, a political and constitutional coup began in parliament," he said. "I consider the events in the Ukrainian parliament a formal beginning of the formation of a new parliamentary coalition."

In a televised address to the nation after his political party withdrew from the government, Mr Yushchenko threatened to call an election within two months.

His comments had greater impact because they came a day before the US vice president Dick Cheney was scheduled to arrive in Kiev to shore up Western allies threatened by Russia.

"I will use my right to dismiss parliament and announce early elections," he said.

[KingSnorky]

I sure hope Yushchenko hired a food tester.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[SeeSharp]

What is he doing? His party came in third place in the last election.

[rockinqsranch]

It was Yushchenko whom his opposition, or the Russians attempted to poison once before, was it not?

[FreeReign]

What is he doing? His party came in third place in the last election.

You're not being objective. Why not ask, what's Yulia doing? Yuschenko won his last election against his Putin backed opponent. Yulia's support in the parliament never included her throwing big fat wet kisses at Putin.

I say it's TBD what's going on in the Ukraine.

[KingSnorky]

Exactly.

[rockinqsranch]

Actually they succeeded in poisoning Yushchenko, but not in killing him as intended.

[KingSnorky]

Yep. IMO, Putin is to blame for the scars on Yushchenko’s face.

[Moose4]

Yep. I believe he was poisoned with dioxin or something similar...it left his face permanently scarred with acne in addition to almost killing him.

}:-)4

[TheBattman]

Russia will rebuild its empire.. Putin will see to it, by whatever means necessary - militarily (see Georgia), or via backdoor coup such as in in the Ukraine.

And we are basically powerless to do anything to stop it - we already have our hands full in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Ancesthntr]

Mark my words - someday the Russkies are going to go into Ukraine in force. The excuse will be that they were stepping in to stop violence or impending violence against the “legitimate government” of Ukraine by Western-backed terrorists. Except that the “legitimate government” of Ukraine at that point will be some fringe that claims to be the government after having committed some kind of fraud. The intervention will be “legal” in that the “legitimate government” will have signed a mutual assistance treaty (or some such crap).

Just watch; the world is being set up for an instant replay of the Soviet Empire, courtesy of Vlad Dracul Putin.

[ubaldus]

>> Mark my words - someday the Russkies are going to go into Ukraine in force.

No need for that, they just need a govt which they control completely, with respect to the foreign politics and energy policy.

Kuchma was an old fox, too shrewd to not hedge his bets. Yuschenko is (was?) looking toward NATO and EU, but that was not to be.

Now Yulia and/or Yanukovich will come out on top. Both will be very receptive to Putin’s wishes. Once Russia takes over the gas transit pipeline and some crucial media channels, it has reeastablished Ukraine as its satellite.

People in the Western Ukraine will grumble, but as long as the gas is not too expensive and they are not forced to speak Russian, they would not complain too loudly.

[SampleMan]

We are a long way from having our hands full. Our will is what is lacking.

[TigersEye]

Not many are watching this but it is one of the most important situations in the world today IMO.

[fanfan]

Ping

[MarMema]

Yes it is. I do so love the Georgians, but in addition to that, this is an incredible piece of history unfolding right in front of us.

in a mere 24 hours or so they have gone on a journalist killing spree, it seems

It is as if, after the one they shot in the head from Ingushetia, they are saying "and here are a few more, just for good measure".

fascinating admission that south ossetia was on the dole for nothing more than to annoy Georgia

A mass zombification of the public at large, the preparing of public opinion, perhaps one or two bloody terrorist attacks with a lot of human victims, which will of course be carried out by "persons of Georgian nationality", and Russia will once again enthusiastically respond to an incendiary call to ‘wipe out the terrorists in the toilet'", he says with conviction. "The Kremlin will seek at any cost to overthrow the regime of Mikhail Saakashvili, who is stubborn enough to lead his country into NATO, and they'll put their puppet in Tbilisi. And there's a suitable candidate to hand - an ‘opposition figure' who's been kept warm by Moscow, Igor Giorgadze, Putin's colleague in the KGB. In my view, some serious ordeals await Georgia in the near future. Very serious ones," he says.

[TigersEye]

Excellent articles. Russia may actually be more vile and dangerous than the PRC.

[redgolum]

And so it begins.

So how many millions will die this time? To be honest, are we going to bail Europe out this time or let them sleep in the bed that they made? I am torn.

[Thunder90]

Soviet Russia and the PR China are cut from the same fabric. And notice that I said “Soviet Russia”.