Consequently, this is a nation with no rule of law, weak institutions, an uncompetitive economy and a tremendous gap between the handful of billionaires at the top and the majority of the nation that lives in poverty. It is not surprising that such a volatile society has seen two revolutions, one war and five presidents in its 25 years of independence.
Western partners have been conflicted about what to do. They want to help Ukraine succeed. They also want to discourage the worst behaviors of the nation’s political leaders. So the question raised periodically is – should we help Ukraine financially or not?
The answer at a Feb. 4 G7 ambassadors’ meeting in Kyiv evidently was: Yes, but with conditions. European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Tombinski said that all the anti-corruption and other conditions attached to the multibillion-dollar International Monetary Fund lending program “must be complied with.” Japan’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Shigeki Sumi, said: “The president, the prime minister and the speaker have assured us that they will work together and unite efforts to hold the reform in the country.”
Our guess is that the G7 ambassadors told Ukraine’s leaders to stop corruption if they wanted any more Western aid. Good for them. We favor aid to Ukraine, but only with strict conditions because President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and their allies controlling parliament have shown they will do nothing to dismantle the oligarchy and combat corruption on their own.
Later, at an emergency Cabinet of Ministers meeting, Yatsenyuk vowed unity after coaxing four other ministers — agriculture’s Oleksiy Pavlenko, infrastructure’s Andriy Pyvovarsky, health’s Alexander Kvitashvili and information’s Yuriy Stets to rescind their resignations.
The only way that the West can get the government’s attention is to cut off their aid.
Otherwise, the West is only enabling corruption by bailing out Ukraine’s leaders with grants and low-interest loans. But humanitarian aid as well as support for civil society and independent journalism should continue.
Everyone interested in Ukraine owes Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius a debt of gratitude for lifting the curtain on the sordid self-dealing and pressure he encountered when he attempted systemic reform, triggering his resignation on Feb. 3. Let’s hope more of the best and brightest do not race for the exits. But if they do, the fault belongs to Poroshenko, Yatsenyuk, parliament and their oligarchic backers.
We suggest Western leaders keep using the financial weapon until Ukraine’s rulers act in the national interest and stop their fake campaign against corruption.
