Ukrainian interest. Northern vector, disturbing PACE, and bloody paint on WWII graves

Yevgeny Magda

While in Finland and Estonia, Petro Poroshenko raised some Ukraine-related issues, significant for the country. At a January session of PACE, the friends of Russia were really close to getting a long-awaited revenge. Acts of vandalism against the Polish graves in Ukraine have a rather logical explanation.

Northern European states perceive seriously the threat posed by Russia. This was evidenced, in particular, by Finland’s public willingness to host the Center for hybrid threats counteraction, which is being set up by NATO and the EU.

Petro Poroshenko during his visit to Tallinn and Helsinki underlined that Ukraine was ready to share experience in combating Russia, noting the willingness to fight back a possible full-scale invasion.

Poroshenko sees no reason to cancel Western sanctions against the Kremlin in response to the recent discussions on this issue raised by some media outlets. Re-election of Pedro Agramunt as PACE President has visibly inspired the friends of Russia in this organization.

The delegation of Russian lawmakers, as we know, does not intend to return to Strasbourg in 2017, so the Kremlin relies on the use of its various allies - both the "useful idiots" and paid puppets.

Having spoken for the return of the Russian delegation and promised to make the necessary efforts to this end, Agramunt echoes the views of part of the European political elite, even if he is unable to achieve a breakthrough alone.

Germany’s Andrei Gunko, who attempted to introduce amendments to the PACE resolution, unacceptable for Ukraine, seems to be perceiving himself as Putin’s servant. Ukrainian delegation this time has managed to fight back, but it is not yet time for the delegates to rest on laurels.

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