So laments Ukraine’s President in the Washington Post. He has some harsh words for Old Europe and the UN as well —
The conflict in Georgia revealed problems that extend well beyond our region. Recent events have made clear how perilous it is for the international community to ignore “frozen conflicts.” The issues of breakaway regions in newly independent states are complex; too often, they have been treated as bargaining chips in geopolitical games. But such “games” result in the loss of human lives, humanitarian disasters, economic ruin and the collapse of international security guarantees. Ukraine has become a hostage in the war waged by Russia. This has prompted Ukrainian authorities and all of our country’s people, including those living in the Crimea, to ponder the dangers emanating from the fact that the Russian Black Sea fleet is based on our territory. The tragic events in Georgia also exposed the lack of effective preventive mechanisms by the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations.
Ukraine is stuck with the Russians until 2017, when the base leasing agreement signed by both nations expires. Unfortunately Russia –which has viewed the Black Sea as an extension of its territory since they defeated the Turks at the Battle of Kerch Strait in 1790– has no plans to scale back its influence in the region. When Ukraine boots them in nine years, they’ll move to a massive new base at Novorossiysk. As for Ivan’s Black Sea Fleet? President Yushchenko is justified in his concern. It’s formidable.
