Yevgeny Magda
The outcome of the first round of presidential
elections in Moldova has raised discussions on the situation in the country
neighboring to Ukraine. Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill opened a monument
to Prince Vladimir near the Kremlin walls. European Parliament’s pending
decision on a visa-free regime for Ukraine is a matter of increased concern.
For the first in many years, direct presidential
elections in Moldova made Ukrainian politicians pay actual attention to the
situation in a country, which is formally Ukraine’s strategic partner. However,
the relations between Kyiv and Chisinau are periodically overshadowed by
economic disputes, while the outcome of the first round of the presidential
race, seeing Socialist Igor Dodon, a candidate with strong pro-Russian views,
almost winning the whole election October 30, forced the Ukrainian authorities
to intensify its activities.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Moldova Ivan Hnatyshyn was
summoned to Kyiv for consultations, while the Ukrainian MPs for some reason
seem to have set up a contest of irresponsible statements. Dodon overtures to
Moscow and his pro-Russian voters have provoked short-sighted reaction, evident
of the lack of an effective Ukrainian policy in the post-Soviet space.
Firstly, the presidential campaign has not ended and
there are still odds of a Democratic candidate Maya Sandu winning.
Secondly, Moldova is a parliamentary republic, and the
election of the head of state is unlikely to dramatically change the country’s
foreign policy.
Thirdly, it is necessary to distinguish between
campaign rhetoric of candidates and the actual policies of the officials once
they are elected. And, perhaps most importantly, consistent and informed
decisions are needed in building up relations with the neighbors.
Although Ukraine has not yet fully grasped the
consequences of electronic declaration of assets, the completion of the first
stage of the procedure alone has distanced the country from Russia even further
than the demolition of all the monuments to Vladimir Lenin. But the main effect
is that the official Kyiv has fully complied with the EU’s visa liberalization
requirements, and today Ukrainian officials have a right to stress this in
their public statements.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Olena
Zerkal, a lot will be decided on November 7 during the trialogue between the
European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. There
is enough voices in the latter to support the move, as assured by EP President
Martin Schulz. They just need to wait for the green light from Euro-officials.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to ramp up its propaganda measures. In honor of the
day of national unity, which the Kremlin a few years ago chose as a substitute
for the traditional anniversary of the "Great October" [Bolshevik
Revolution of 1917), a monument to Prince Vladimir of Kyiv was unveiled at the
walls of the Kremlin.
Putin called Prince Vladimir "a spiritual founder of
the Russian state". The reason for this sassy try to steal the historic
blanket of Prince Vladimir’s legacy from Ukraine is evident: without the baptism
of Rus and without Kievan Rus, which the Russians prefer to call the Old
Russian state, it would be too difficult to claim the Russian history dates
back over a thousand years.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, Putin publicly
supported the need for the development of the law on the Russian nation.
Judging by the prevalent moods in the Russian government, the "Orthodoxy -
Autocracy - Nationality" formula will be the primary one, with just minor
adjustments. Russian FM Sergey Lavrov’s latest statement that the U.S. will
find it very painful to grasp the current international realities fits this
paradigm just perfectly.
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