"The conflict with Russia, among other things, serves as an argument to divert attention from shortcomings in its reform policy. And often one can hear the statement that the West could soon leave Ukraine to its faith," the analyst argued.
For instance, the recent statement of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko which he made in his annual address to the Verkhovna Rada sounded as if he "wanted to blame the failures of his country on someone else — on Russia, anyway, and possibly even on the West."
His position, however, is more than surprising to Western countries as the IMF has just recently given Kiev a new loan amounting to one billion dollars.
The IMF executive board agreed to provide Kiev with a $1-billion tranche on Wednesday, the fund said in a statement. According to a statement posted on the official website of the president of Ukraine, the IMF decision opens the way for the allocation of $1 billion of assistance from the United States and 600 million euros (over $675 million at the current exchange rate) more from the European Union.
"The EU in particular is doing a lot for Ukraine: political support, financial aid and new markets. Sanctions against Russia are still in force. In the foreseeable future even a visa-free regime with the EU will be possible for Ukrainians," the author wrote.
However, as Johann stated, the West might soon "lose faith in Ukraine's ability to carry out reforms." Taking into account the "renewed fight among oligarchs," "ongoing corruption" and "crackdown on press freedom," Western countries might indeed come to a conclusion that their financial aid disappears in an unknown direction.
