They’re on pins and needles in the Kremlin today. Why? Because earlier today, Ukraine’s Supreme Administrative Court ‘put on hold’ the declaration that the man above, Viktor Yanukovich, has won the Ukrainian presidential election. Yanukovich is the man that the Orange Revolution emerged to overthrow – and the Kremlin favors him to win just as it did then.
The reasons can clearly be seen in this news item from Russia’s Gazeta newspaper, which quotes Yanukovich as saying all the right things as far as Moscow is concerned.
For Russia’s Gazeta, reporter Alexandra Sheiko writes in part:
Victor Yanukovich, who according to the preliminary results is the winner of Ukraine’s presidential election, gave an interview to News of the Week on Russia-1.
Yanukovich didn’t rule out the possibility that the Black Sea Fleet would remain in Sevastopol beyond 2017. He explained that it’s vitally important for Moscow and Kiev to study many issues as a “package,” because of the need to return to friendly strategic relations between the two countries. “We will discuss this issue in the near future. It will not be decided at the expense of Russia, but will be addressed in the national interest of Ukraine. We’ll find a solution,” he added.
Then, on the question of NATO membership for Ukraine, Sheiko reports:
Yanukovich stated that Ukraine’s joining NATO isn’t something to expect in the near future. This is yet another sore point between Moscow and Kiev. The Party of Regions leader announced that the current format of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO is definitive and will not be expanded.
“Ukraine will build its relations with NATO in keeping with this format. And we’ve clearly answered this question – that of Ukraine joining NATO. If the matter arises again, we don’t see it in the near future. But, if it does come up, it will be decided in a Ukraine-wide referendum,” assured the winner at the polls.
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