The director of the programmes of Russia and CIS at the German council on foreign policy, Alexander Rar, believes that Germany may become the “main advocate” of Ukraine in the European Union.
In his interview to the BBC Ukrainian Service he said that if the Christian Democratic Party, CDU, wins the election, “the attitude towards Ukraine will change”.
“Ukraine will thus get a real chance to obtain a strategic friend, when the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the Union arises”.
In addition, Ukraine has won lots of sympathies after the orange revolution; many more than Russia, “which is said to be drifting towards a new dictatorship”.
However, according to Rar, there are several “very influential structures, mostly in business, that have been collaborating with Russia for the last 30 years”. These structures will not allow the chancellor to change Germany’s foreign line.
Rar is somewhat disappointed with the situation in Ukraine eight month since the new government has taken power in Ukraine.
“With such countenance and political support from the European Union Ukraine could do so much more”, said Rar.
To begin with, the government should “make friends with the western business”.
“Unfortunately, today reminds me the early years of Kuchma or the last years of Kravchuk, when Ukrainian politicians were saying that Ukraine should be admitted to NATO and only then Ukraine would be able to reform itself. And when the West was saying ‘No, conduct the reforms first and get an entry ticket like that’, Ukraine was getting offended, saying ‘No, you have to reward us for handing over our nuclear weapons and for separating from the Soviet Union’”, said Rar.
Alexander Rar believes that it remains to be resolved “whether Ukraine’s integration is an elitist idea and in reality is not based on the public support”.
“The it will be easier for Ukraine and the West to communicate”, said Rar.
