Main focus of Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Yanukovych eyes the West

Until now the winner of the Ukrainian presidential elections Viktor Yanukovych has been considered staunchly pro-Russian. But in future he could play a key role in stabilising the country by moving closer to Europe and Western Ukraine, commentators write.

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

In these times of political turmoil it's up to election winner Viktor Yanukovych to bring stability to Ukraine, writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung: "Yanukovych could manage this if he is able to bring politicians from Western Ukraine on board. ... The European Union also has every interest in a stable Ukraine, and consequently EU politicians should do all they can to exert a moderating influence on both the winner and the losers. ... Domestic stability is the precondition for any further reforms and something even the country's powerful oligarchs are pushing for from the sidelines. They too know that the country must become more democratic if it wants any further political support from the EU. And Kiev will need just that as soon as the next conflict with Moscow rolls around." (09/02/2010)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Elections, » Ukraine
All available articles from » Thomas Urban

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary

The conservative daily Magyar Nemzet writes that election winner Viktor Yanukovych must now focus on uniting Ukraine: "Ukrainians took their most important decision in the first ballot, when they sent Viktor Yushchenko packing. His term as president was marked by dilettantism and nationalism on the one hand and an understanding of democracy as a never-ending power struggle on the other. That made the country highly unstable. ... No doubt the new president Viktor Yanukovych will not be able to deliver Ukraine from all of its woes. But if he manages to stabilise this country torn by political and regional strife, his work will be done." (09/02/2010)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Ukraine
All available articles from » Gábor Stier

The Irish Times - Ireland

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko could help stabilise Ukraine after Viktor Yanukovych's electoral victory, writes The Irish Times: "Both candidates had broadly similar programmes favouring economic integration with the EU and particularly the negotiation of an EU-Ukrainian association agreement. Membership of Nato is off the agenda for now. But  [Yanukovych's] victory was less to do with policy differences than his successful leveraging of both the country's continued deep east-west divide and popular disenchantment over [Tymoshenko's] handling of the economy. ... If he can bring a measure of stability to the country's politics the election may prove an important turning point." (09/02/2010)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe

Latvijas Avīze - Latvia

Viktor Yanukovych, winner of Ukraine's presidential elections, is generally regarded as more pro-Russian than his opponent Yulia Tymoshenko or his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko. The daily Latvijas Avīze questions this theory: "Ukraine is not Russia, where even before the elections it was clear that Medvedev would succeed Putin and their United Russia party would win the parliamentary elections. Yushchenko lost the popularity he enjoyed during the times of the Orange Revolution. Russian gas, on which Ukraine is dependent, played a major role in this loss. Yushchenko's former rival Yanukovych can now finally take possession of the presidential seat he coveted for so long, but he is also at pains to correct his image from previous times. ... Moreover Yanukovych remains deeply unpopular in western Ukraine, and it is entirely possible that he will be forced to make concessions." (09/02/2010)

» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia
All available articles from » Māris Antonevičs

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, February 9, 2010