Departing president says successor will return Ukraine to Russia’s grip
By APTuesday, February 16, 2010
Departing president warns Ukraine is turning East
KIEV, Ukraine — Departing Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko says the policies of his newly elected successor risk turning Ukraine back into a Kremlin vassal state.
Yushchenko made some of his harshest statements at a news conference Tuesday against President-elect Viktor Yanukovych, nine days before he is due to leave office.
He says Yanukovych’s plans are degrading to the nation and the European course it has pursued since Yushchenko took office in 2005.
He lambasted Yanukovych’s plans to give Russia a stake in Ukraine’s natural gas pipelines and to extend the lease Russia has on a Black Sea naval base.
Yanukovych says in response that he will pursue a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy.
