For the Ukrainian Government, the EU summit in Riga, Latvia, last Friday was a bitter pill. EU leaders dashed hopes for fast a track to Ukraine’s membership. Kiev received non-committal promises about a visa liberalisation program and pledges of €1.8 billion in loans (national debt has almost reached 100% of GDP). But even this is dependent on structural reform and anti-corruption measures that the country has proved unable to make in twenty-five years of independence.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was visibly disappointed. ‘During these (past) 18 months, the Ukrainian people…made a revolution of dignity, and paid a very high price for …read more
Restless in Odessa
