Ukrainian to be or not to be dilemma: Tsar or Yeltsin?

Last week, after police used force against peaceful rally in favor of Eurointegration, Ukraine woke up and started multimillion people protest - EuroMaidan - against President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych.

East of Ukraine believed it is all orchestrated by NATO, West of Ukraine believed it is all sanctioned from Russia. Only Yanukovych was relatively quiet, show no reaction that anything wrong is going on in country. Took a business trip to China, then, according to rumors, to Sochi, Russia to sign Customs Union and received financial support from President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Actions of Victor Yanukovych are either genius master plan or total ignorance of Ukrainian people.

In 1st case we can expect resignation speech at New Year eve, like President of Russia Boris Yeltsin did in 1999. Silence, failed attempt to resign government of Azarov, signing union agreement with Russia, and, hopefully, making resignation would make Victor Yanukovych a national hero. Think about it:

• Ukraine got better deal out of Russia (I'm pretty sure that with EuroMaidan protests Vladimir Putin had to sweeten the deal)
• after Yanukovych resignation Mykola Azarov, as temporary executive power, has no chance to win in coming presidential elections (so makes sense why voting his resignation failed)
• Ukraine would vote for pro-European Verkhovna Rada (parliament) and President
• Lifted spirit of Ukrainian people with lowered economic pressure from Russia would boost productivity and significantly improve life today - which means Victor Yanukovych slogan he came to power with is effectively executed
• Donbass Keeps Promises (Донецк порожняк не гонит - could not find accurate English translation) is not just marketing slogan, but mission backed by deliverable
• And in future Ukrainian history singing deal with Vladimir Putin would be known same as Zaporozhian Cossacks write a letter to the Sultan of Turkey

 In 2nd case, where all actions about giving order to beat students, ignoring EuroMaidan, and signing deal with Russia reflect true and deep ignorance of people of Ukraine and establish lifetime ruling of Yanukovych family - effectively making him Tsar of Ukraine.

But in both cases, it is best at this time, to start active negotiations with ruling party. Statements a-la "my way or no way" that frequently coming from EuroMaidan, are just not productive anyway. One of most hard-to-accept lesson during my employment in USA was one manager's quote - "You make what you negotiate, not what you deserve!"

Another valuable American quote is "Dress for the job you want, not the one you have!", which in context of EuroMaidan means that people need to make plans like Ukraine is already member of European Union:

• start making pledges (personal commitments) to change their lives to better European standards like reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, start learning foreign languages, etc.
• empower politicians from opposition to negotiate rules of transparent re-election
• ideal would be to offer economic and tax amnesty to ensure that new people in power would not start "witch hunting"
• etc.

And maybe even, Ukraine has to start negotiating with European Union rules of entry to EU for the whole Russian Customs Union.

I sincerely look forward for 1st case!

best regards,
Roman Havrylyak

12/6/2013