By Taras Kuzio

Friday, February 4, 2005

Ukraine's Social Democratic United Party (SDPUo), the oligarchic party that gained the most from Leonid Kuchma's second term in office, is now faced with a deep crisis that will ultimately be its undoing. Unfortunately for Viktor Medvedchuk, its leader and the former head of the presidential administration, there will be few tears shed for the SDPUo's demise.

Released as Ukraine Stretches out Hand to Business
Business Wire, Thursday, Feb 03, 2005

Ukraine's newly-elected President Viktor Yushchenko made it plain to the
audience and media at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos that foreign
investment in Ukraine would find a good friend in the new government. "My
key objective in coming to Davos was to stretch out my hand to business,"
the Associated Press reported on 29 January. "It's extremely important to
ensure my hand doesn't hang unshaken."

International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS) Newsletter #3 (262)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, January 31, 2005

The main obstacles to balanced and predictable economic growth are
undeveloped domestic markets, an unfriendly business environment, an
underdeveloped financial services sector, and a costly economic system.

Simon Tisdall
Wednesday February 2, 2005
The Guardian

Analysis By Robin Shepherd

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Published February 2, 2005

 The future strategic direction of Ukraine is very much more than a little, local matter. It will affect Ukraine itself, Russia, the European Union and NATO.

    Little wonder then that there is so much confusion about what to do. All four players, to varying degrees, are in a state of "strategic shock." With the election last December of reformist president Viktor Yushchenko, a matter of seismic geo-political importance has been thrust onto the political agenda...

C.J. Chivers reports on a hidden factor within the Orange Revolution.

By C. J. Chivers, The New York Times
New York, New York

More than 10,000 troops scrambled toward trucks. Most had helmets, shields
and clubs. Three thousand carried guns. Many wore black masks. Within 45
minutes, according to their commander, Lt. Gen. Sergei Popkov, they had
distributed ammunition and tear gas and were rushing out the gates...

Oxford Analytica, UK, Tuesday, January 11, 2005

The Central Election Commission yesterday announced final results of
the presidential election, showing Viktor Yushchenko the winner with 52% of
the vote.

President-elect Viktor Yushchenko's positive international
reputation stems from his time as central bank governor in the 1990s and
prime minister in 1999-2001. He is now backed by an ideologically diverse
alliance that includes both radical and moderate elements...