Posted on 01/17/2010 12:23:38 PM PST by kronos77
Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-friendly politician defeated by the pro-Western Orange Revolution five years ago, was on course for a big win in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday.
By Andrew Osborn in Kiev Published: 6:44PM GMT 17 Jan 2010
Early exit polls suggested Mr Yanukovych , 59, would claim almost a third of the vote and be anything up to ten percentage points ahead of his nearest rival Yulia Tymoshenko, the current prime minister.
The result underscores the failure of a revolution meant to pull Ukraine out of Russia's orbit and set it on a firmly Western course. Both candidates say they will abandon efforts to join Nato and pledge to repair ties to Russia, the region's dominant power.
It is an unlikely comeback for Mr Yanukovych, who was accused of rigging the same contest five years ago. He confidently promised Ukraine would enter a new phase of development under his leadership "very soon". Viktor Yushchenko, the man who beat him to the presidency in 2005, appeared by contrast to have suffered a dramatic reversal of fortune and was on track to win less than five per cent of the vote. He swept to power in 2005 on a wave of popular euphoria after surviving an apparent poisoning that left his face disfigured.
That euphoria has now turned to disappointment, however, and even some of his supporters say he squandered an opportunity to bring about desperately needed reform. On Mr Yushchenko's watch, Ukraine has fallen into a deep recession, seen its relations with key trading partner Russia sour, and seen promises of EU membership come to nothing.
A promise to deliver European-style living standards has also failed to materialise, leaving millions mired in poverty.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Ukraine is not going to wind up in Russia's orbit; there is too much bad history there and Ukrainians like being their own country again.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
Ukrains pretty much do not like Russians or any one else
Ukrainians have pride. Remember that Seinfeld ep when Kramer and Newman are playing RISK and Kramer say s”Ukraine is weak” and the guy on the subway knocks over the board and says “Ukraine is not weak!”
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