The ongoing confusion in Ukraine, which lies between Europe and Russia, adversely affects the security of Europe as a whole. To improve the situation, it is critical for Ukraine to achieve political stability and Russia to exercise self-restraint.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comedian who was elected in Ukraine's presidential election in April, has been inaugurated as the country's new president.
The freshness of Zelenskiy, who describes himself as a political novice, attracted voters' support, thereby earning him an overwhelming victory. However, Zelenskiy has no force that supports him in parliament, and he could not even get his way regarding which day he would be sworn in. He will likely face difficulties in running his administration.
In his inaugural address, Zelenskiy indicated his intention to dissolve parliament and call parliamentary elections prior to the ordinary ones scheduled for October. Will he be able to form a majority group in parliament, using the political party he has established as the center of the faction? A pressing task for him is to cement his political footing by announcing concrete policies for such purposes as rooting out corruption, which the people expect him to.
What is worrying to him is the intensified conflict between his country and Russia.
Five years ago, the Crimean Peninsula, which lies in southern Ukraine, was unilaterally annexed by Russia. Conflicts between government forces and pro-Russia armed groups continue in Ukraine's eastern region. Last year, a Ukrainian Navy vessel was captured by a Russian guard ship in the Black Sea, which surrounds Crimea, and its crew have been detained since.
Putin must ease tensions
The government of then President Petro Poroshenko only stressed its hostile stance toward Russia, and was not able to allay tensions with that country. Zelenskiy can be praised for expressing his intention to place priority on achieving a ceasefire in the eastern region and saying he is ready for "dialogue" with Russia.
Earlier, Russia and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire in the eastern region's conflict through the mediation of Germany and France, but the agreement has not yet been implemented. Germany and France should more strongly urge the warring parties to resume ceasefire talks.
What cannot be overlooked is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to turn what can be described as a "change made in the status quo by force" into a fait accompli. In Crimea, Russia is promoting infrastructure development while also making progress in the additional deployment of a new air-defense missile system there.
In late April, immediately after the presidential election, Russia simplified procedures for the acquisition of Russian nationality, targeting residents in Ukraine's eastern part, many of whom are pro-Russia. Ukraine is divided between pro-Russia and pro-Europe groups. Obviously, Russia's latest action points to an ulterior motive of rattling Ukraine's new government, which is seeking to achieve national unity.
Since its annexation of Crimea, Russia has become more and more deeply isolated in the international community. Despite rising close to 90 percent immediately after the annexation, Putin's support rating has recently fallen to the 60 percent range, reflecting such factors as a domestic economic slump due to the sanctions imposed on Russia by European countries and the United States.
Putin must realize that unless he tries to ease tensions by using the advent of Ukraine's new government as an opportunity to achieve that goal, his country will not be able to improve relations with European nations and the United States, and have the sanctions eased.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 22, 2019)
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