Ukraine: non-military aspects (2016 onwards)

[mirhond]

The resigned Minister of economy of Ukraine Aivaras Abromavicius told The Financial Times about the reasons for his resignation. Journalists appreciate his decision and talk about the future of the country in the context of stalled reforms and unsuccessful fight against corruption.

"Ukraine's last chance to secure it's freedom", "Ukrainians deserve better than to lose their reform champions" - an articles in "Financial Times"

http://search.ft.com/search?queryText=ukraine

[mirhond]

Poroshenko tried to throw Yatzen'uk along with his cabinet under the bus, but failed to rally Rada for this cause, Yatz stays.

http://korrespondent.net/ukraine/363...anyl-svoi-post

[davidbfpo]

An interesting article profiling the all-male leadership, some of whom have "left the scene":

Two years ago, a separatist movement in southeast Ukraine brought war and tragedy to the whole country. Though the crisis continues, the movement’s first leaders have gone their separate ways.

Link:https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/aleksandr-litoy/heroes-of-novorossiya-where-are-they-now?

[mirhond]

Poroshenko launches a large privatization campaign in Ukraine.

http://www.segodnya.ua/economics/ene...ne-697021.html

Poroshenko has launched large-scale privatization in Ukraine

[mirhond]

NYT: Ukraine’s Unyielding Corruption

Mr. Poroshenko, himself a product of the old system, has had his hands full with the Moscow-backed separatists in the east and unceasing political turmoil in Kiev, where Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s government is hanging by a thread.
In these circumstances, Mr. Poroshenko seems to have accepted continuing corruption as the price to pay for a modicum of maneuvering room. But the president, the prime minister and the Parliament must be made to understand that the International Monetary Fund and donor nations, including the United States, cannot continue to shovel money into a corrupt swamp unless the government starts shaping the democratic rule that Ukrainians demanded in their protests.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/op...tion.html?_r=0

[mirhond]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...ukrainian-rada

Script of J. Biden speech in Rada, here are some good points

Because as all of you know the struggle for Ukraine’s freedom is not confined to the battlefields of the east. Constitutional reform that includes judicial reform and decentralization does not compromise your sovereignty. It enhances it. It’s an important step to building a strong, new nation. And it’s important to the Ukrainian-European future.

This issue of federalism is the thing that almost prevented our nation from coming into being. Autonomous independent states, their determination to have their own police forces, their determination to have their education system, to have their own government under the united Constitution.

But in addition, you also have a battle, a historic battle against corruption. Ukraine cannot afford for the people to lose hope again. The only thing worse than having no hope at all is having hopes rise and see them dashed repeatedly on the shoals of corruption.

[mirhond]

Police vs. "amber mafia" in W. Ukraine, video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlU72Snn4Zg

illegal amber digging brings hefty profits to local "businessmen" and corrupted officials, National Guard to the rescue.
http://gordonua.com/news/society/zam...ya-127156.html



the same region, one year ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TDVM9Tk2o