Ukrainians differ on future of eastern regions: Analyst
Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst from Washington, and Peter Sinnott, an independent scholar from New York, to discuss the protests in Kiev that erupted after Ukrainian MPs backed the first reading of constitutional reforms that give greater powers to eastern regions.
Jatras thinks some foreign and internal elements are pulling Ukraine apart, saying the same radical parties in the country which ignited the violence to overthrow the former president, Viktor Yanukovych, in 2014, are now on the street to protest against incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.
The protesters in Kiev are against political reforms in Ukraine as well as the autonomy of eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, he argues, adding that there are deep differences in Kiev on the future of pro-Russia areas.
The analyst also says Kiev is concerned about the consequences of letting Luhansk and Donetsk separate from Ukraine as there is the possibility that other cities such as Kharkiv and Odessa would also try to gain independence.
However, Ukraine is expected to implement the provisions of Minsk II agreement, said the analyst, adding that the Kiev government should pursue political reforms to decentralize the country.
He maintains the political developments in Ukraine show that it is a non-functioning and failed state.
For his part, Sinnott blames the far-right Svoboda party for the recent clashes that killed one person and injured dozens of others outside the Ukraine parliament.
He adds the protesters opposed lawmakers’ support for a bill to give more autonomy to pro-Russia regions in eastern Ukraine.
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