The British ambassador to Ukraine, Simon Smith has criticised the country for choosing Russia over the European Union and halt the signing of the EU/Ukraine Association Agreement "was an egregious piece of cynicism."
Writing a blog post on the official UK Foreign office website, Smith continues, "I listened last Thursday evening to the first public explanations of the decision, putting the emphasis on the need for “compensation” for the losses to the Ukrainian economy anticipated from the damage that Russia had made clear it would inflict."
His damning verdict is, "It was clear that the perceived price of Ukraine’s signing the Agreement was high. It would also have been clear to many of those listening that this was a price completely unnecessarily exacted. One might even say extorted."
In comparison, Smith felt, "my dismay and disappointment was deepened by hearing in the public justification of the decision how badly it failed to recognise the value of what was on offer from the EU."
The diplomat notes that the Ukranian economy is in trouble, but he believes that many solutions are "firmly within Ukraine's grasp."
Smith advocates improving performance and stimulating growth, as well as a "sincere and committed approach to tackling corruption and the raiding culture."
With that and a commitment to the IMF programme would help the economy, but nothing more so than "seizing the chance to compete in the Champions League of business in the European Single Market would have been a great stimulus to growing Ukrainian businesses that are fit for the future."
Noting this opportunity, Smith says, "it takes farsighted vision and strong nerve to grasp it."
Sadly, he says, "Neither was discernible in last Thursday’s decision. It was a triumph of cynicism over hope and confidence in the future."