Russia’s bullying uncalled for

WHILE President Vladimir Putin has been trying to play the statesman on Syria, Russia has been bullying and blackmailing its closest neighbours. Moscow is doing all it can to dissuade former Soviet republics including Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia from signing far-reaching co-operation and trade accords with the European Union (EU).

Instead, Russia wants them to join a customs union it has created with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Russia’s approach to its neighbours involves few carrots, but predictable sticks — from blocks on vital exports and threats over energy supplies to mischief-making over “frozen conflicts” on their borders. Armenia buckled, agreeing this month to join the customs union. Moldova has held firm.

Russia’s strong-arm tactics sharpen the EU’s dilemma over the most geopolitically important of these countries, Ukraine. Its president, Viktor Yanukovich, has restored the soft authoritarianism that existed before the 2004 Orange Revolution. Though the Orange leaders did little to tackle graft, Yanukovich’s “anticorruption” pro- gramme has mostly targeted opponents. Far from embracing the EU’s offer, moreover, Yanukovich dragged his feet over necessary reforms. Kiev has failed to release Yulia Tymoshenko, the former premier jailed on dubious charges.

An EU-appointed commission is expected to recommend that Tymoshenko be released to a third country for medical treatment. If Ukraine’s keenness to sign the EU deal is genuine, the government should comply. Even then, the EU must decide whether it wants to integrate more closely with a state that has not embraced its values.

It should sign, for two reasons. First, the EU agreement is still the best hope of putting Ukraine on a path to law-based democracy. Not signing now could see Ukraine “lost” to Europe.

Second, Russia’s bullying should not prevail. States have the right to determine their future, free of threats. If being part of “Europe” is what Ukraine wants, the EU should create mechanisms to ensure it implements continuing reforms. But it should take Ukraine’s hand and lead it to the door.