Source
© Collage: Voice of Russia
One of the consequences of the Ukrainian crisis is the direct confrontation between US and Russia, drawn in the conflict as the main participants.
Though, in fact, the contradictions among Ukrainian people in respect of their future originate from the disagreement about EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Only Ukrainians themselves, without any interference, can decide on the country’s internal affairs and resolve the conflict, said Neil MacFarlane, Professor of International Relations at St Anne's College.
"The US has seemingly diverted its strategic attention to East Asia – the Asian pivot, if you will. And, consequently, the US was not paying a great deal of attention to the matters in Ukraine. It was also not paying a great deal of attention to Russian policy towards Ukraine. If you look at the polling data in Ukraine over the past several years, the Ukrainian people have not been very enthusiastic about NATO, but reasonably enthusiastic about the EU." - Professor MacFarlane said.
"If you then look at the data more closely, you find that western Ukraine is more enthusiastic than people in eastern Ukraine, many of whom are of Russian extraction. There is some disagreement among the Ukrainians themselves, however, it is not, to my mind, in the interest of Ukraine if moving closer to Europe causes problems in the relationship with Russia. The other point in terms of interests is that any westward movement on the part of Ukraine would involve substantial economic readjustment. This will hurt many people, probably, particularly in eastern Ukraine in the short term." - Neil MacFarlane added.
"In the long term, probably, integration with Europe is desirable. But I'm not surprised that many people were nervous about the association agreement with the EU.
I’m not surprised that many people were nervous about the consequences of a debt arrangement with the IMF. I think it is best left to the Ukrainians themselves to decide this." - Neil MacFarlane concluded.