Ukrainian expert: Compromise means weakness for Donetsk politicians

The president of Ukraine won't make concessions to opposition.

Andriy Zolotariov, the head of Third Sector analytical centre discussed the latest events in Ukraine with charter97.org.

“The situation has moved so far for several reasons. Firstly, the notorious Donetsk political matrix that can be expressed in the words 'Nobody can make Donbass kneel' regards any compromises as a sign of weakness. So, they have high ambitions and unwillingness to take things real. Secondly, giving an ultimatum and looking for a new compromise by the opposition are mutually exclusive things. This position makes the situation uncertain, any accident, any provocation or a sniper's shot can lead to escalation, which we have seen. Radical activists went to Hrushevsky Street on January 19. Most protesters seem to approve the position 'go to the end',” the analyst noted.

The expert thinks it drives the situation into a deadlock where only violence can help.

“New elements have appeared in the last two days: seizure of regional administrations in Lviv, Rivne, Lutsk, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk. It complicates the situation moving it to the verge of a breakup of the country. The sides don't want to understand the full victory of one side will give the winner only a half of Ukraine. In fact, the situation resembles Yugoslavia. Economic problems, nationalism, confessional differences, external influence, government's mistakes, a stake on force led to turning Yugoslavia from the most cheerful brother in the socialist camp into the state formations unknown to most of Ukrainians. In this case Yanukovych will repeat Milosevic's fate,” he stressed.

The politologist thinks the sides should look for a compromise.

“The resignation of Azarov's government, limiting the president's power and returning to the 2004 Constitution may be a compromise. The struggle is for the seat in Bankova Street. Leaders are ready to sacrifice everything and put the country on the brink of the breakup to get the presidential seat. So, this seat has to be either removed or made less attractive,” Andriy Zolotariov is confident.

January 23, Thursday, became a new stage of the confrontation between the Ukrainian people and the authorities. The main activity moved from Kyiv, where a truce was reached, to other cities. Thousands of people took to streets in Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil in western Ukraine. They held people's assemblies on central squares and occupied buildings of the local administrations. The process was fast with minimum resistance from local law-enforcement bodies. The police either didn't hinder or only closed doors to the buildings that were broken down.