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Europe is tired of Ukraine, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said in an interview with Ukrainian outlet European Integration. The reason is that Kiev is allegedly reluctant to follow any advice given to it by its Western partners.
Kersti Kaljulaid said that Tallinn continues supporting Kiev, but the “wider Europe” was growing tired of Ukraine.
“Yes. And the reason for this is that for many years we have been giving the same advice and we don’t see Ukraine becoming less corrupt, the economy less oligarchic, and so on,” she said.
According to her, in Estonia they understand that some of the member states of the European Union will “give up on Kiev’s interests for the sake of economic relations with Moscow”, even if Ukraine succeeds in the fight against corruption.
The new Ukrainian government now needs to show that developments in this direction would happen faster, she said. Getting a result now was critical for there to be anything that would come in the future.
She said that the European countries were seeing less and less point in extending the anti-Russian sanctions, since Ukraine wasn’t really doing anything to improve its situation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised quick reforms, and nothing concrete has even been undertaken yet.
In the now 6 years of the beginning of the Maidan coup and the hope of quick European integration, very little has actually happened. The only things that have taken place were the signing of an agreement with the EU and visa-free entry for Ukrainian citizens.
Europe does not promise Ukraine accession to the European Union, calling it a matter of distant future, but promises it all kinds of in-depth integration, investment, cooperation and assistance. That would only take place if reforms happened.
First of all, it is the fight against corruption, building an honest judicial system and removing oligarchs from power.
Zelensky was elected with the hope that he would do what ex-President Petro Poroshenko clearly couldn’t. So far, the voters are being show nothing different from the previous government.
And the European leaders are unwilling to say why Ukraine is unlikely to join the European union.
It is mostly due to the wish of avoiding a quarrel with Russia, which would potentially see accession of Ukraine into the EU as an attempt to seize a territory which was originally Russian.
In addition, it is very important for them that Kiev believe in the European dream and but also not turn back its back to Russia.
European politics can only be told in response to the importance of supporting democracy and the free choice of the Ukrainian people, who have linked their future with Europe. The importance of repulsing Russian expansion.
But even the countries with the most anti-Russian mindset there is no wish to carry out anything drastic.
Therefore, politicians say that Ukraine will be reformed: now Zelensky has become president, and everything will work out. Which is quite unlikely, so far, Zelensky only says he wants to normalize relations with Russia, but is following strictly in Poroshenko’s footsteps.
At the same time, in Europe there is very little faith that Zelensky will really succeed in changing the situation in Ukraine. But the question is also whether the EU wants any steps to succeed, since then there would be question as to why precisely Ukraine isn’t being further integrated into Europe.
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid gave some pointers, but also apologized for a statement by the Estonian Interior Minister, who said that visa-free travel for Ukrainians should be revoked.
The Estonian leader said that it was unlikely for anti-Russian sanctions to be removed this year, but to make it certain that they would remain it was necessary for Ukraine to show results and build on an apparent foundation against corruption and oligarchy, which according to her exists in Ukraine.
“But there is another thing that can support sanctions – the success of reforms in Ukraine. When we do not see the real progress of your state, then we have much less arguments to uphold the sanctions. And if in the coming months you show such progress, it will greatly facilitate my work in convincing my European colleagues to maintain sanctions.”
Which is a rather twisted logic: the more successful Zelensky’s reforms are, the more reliably the EU will hold on to sanctions against Russia in order to support Ukraine.
But, at the same time European leaders are growing tired of worsening their relations with Russia in the long-term, and they surely don’t want to bet the entire relationships on Ukraine.
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To put in bluntly, Ukraine will never be able to be rid of corruption whilst the gang of Ukranian Khazar Jews and Oligarchs have a firm grip on the reins of absolute power.
What’s required is a different economic system.
One that isn’t dedicated to the interests of the financial elite.
sure give an example !! they tried communism and what else there?
Russia is capitalist now – here’s the thing – Russia under Putin offered Ukraine a far better deal financially than the EU association agreement and it’s draconian conditionalities.
Still, and from my perspective the capitalist economic system simply isn’t designed to benefit the working class – don’t forget that it’s designed for the sole the benefit of the financial elite.
From my archive
Russia loaned Ukraine 3 Billion by buying their Euro bonds under the condition that Ukraine’s total state debt should not exceed 60% of its GDP [Zerohedge] yet it reached 72%
It was the loan from the IMF that had the draconian conditionalities attached to it including the fracking of eastern Ukraine and that Ukraine in general open up her farmland to the likes of Monsanto. Ukraine had always been free from GMO’s in the past, it’s in the conditions of the IMF loan that Ukraine open up her farm land to the likes of various controversial seed companies.
More about — Monsanto & Ukraine [Counterpunch]
Indeed. Did you listen to the Duran talking about what the Bidens were up to in Ukraine – it’s shockingly blatant corruption. Then they go into Bidens in China, equally shocking.
Yes, I have indeed listened to that report, thank you.
I am bewildered that the Libtards are pushing for impeachment with all the actual evidence of the Biden’s sins in plain sight and on tape.
Projection of one’s own sins on another is a childish practice that is sadly used by de-facto tyrannical dictatorships that masquerade as ‘democracies’.
Europe have been hoping for a woman as President in Ukraine and the new President would do more for woman and gay equality, but again the Ukrainians are stuck in their hopeless macho corruption.
The LGBT movement hasn’t developed either. A green vision on environmental clima issues is collecting dust in the Ministry, and no reforms for a country wide parking and velocity fines have yet been made to fit into EUs modern future technology demands.
A sad and depressive progress that don’t leave Brussel much of a choice.
I was going to make a post about how avoiding the whole social justice feminism gender bullshit would only benefit the Ukraine. But upon closer reading I suspect sarcasm on your part. Too bad going ridiculously over the top is so hard to distinguish from the real thing, as the real thing is also trying to go ridiculously over the top as well.
Zelensky was elected with the hope that he would do what ex-President Petro Poroshenko clearly couldn’t. So far, the voters are being show nothing different from the previous government.
Which makes perfect sense. Just like Trump cannot drain his swamp, it would be impossible to expect that Zelensky could drain his, on such short notice, even if he wanted too. When a country suffers from massive corruption and inefficiency its usually because the beneficiaries are well entrenched within the system and because its part of the culture of the country as a whole. Yeah, people may bitch and moan about, but when push comes to shove they try to use the services of that influential uncle or friend that they know as well. And every time you pay someone to get ahead, that means someone else who cannot pay will get behind. The people at the top would not be getting their dues if the people below would not be willing to seek their services. Every country gets the politicians it deserves and corruption not only comes from the top but also from below.