[REactor]

that's why Ukraine is so important. With Ukraine independent from Russia the geopolitics of the whole Europe is totally different than in the past. let's hope Yushchenko won't screw it up.

[twinself]

Sure Ukraine is important. But Western Europe is even more important in her own case. Somehow prefer Euro-Atlantic NATO tune in German policy to cold - business approach of Schroeder. I hope Merkel wins and will politically support Ukraine's presence in Europe. And I am glad that Lithuania and Poland do something to creatively participate in shaping EU's policy towards promotion of democracy in region. Recent meeting in Crimea has been a good one, too.

In my opinion Putin will now try to strenghten Central Asia regimes in Kazakhstan (NAZARBAYEV), Uzbekistan (KARIMOV), Turkmenistan (NIYAZOV) and Armenia to consolidate the USSR left-overs against the "hostile" world - dragging them towards Russo-Chinese alliance.