EU Piles Pressure on Putin Over Discredited Ukrainian Poll

The European Union has signaled its discontent with Vladimir Putin over the disputed Ukrainian presidential election, with the Netherlands announcing the sending of an EU envoy to speak to the Kremlin-backed candidate, Viktor Yanukovich. EU leaders have expressed concerns that the election was fraudulent and that Russia's interference in Ukraine's affairs threatens to disrupt negotiations on trade and security. The EU has called for the election to be reviewed, but there is no clear course of action.

Key Takeaways:

• The European Union has expressed strong disapproval of the Ukrainian presidential election, with EU leaders stating that they will not accept elections that are fraudulent.
• The Netherlands has announced that it will send an EU envoy to speak to Viktor Yanukovich, the Kremlin-backed candidate.
• The EU-Russia summit in The Hague is expected to be tense, with EU leaders expected to register their dissatisfaction with Russia's role in Ukraine.
• Nato has called for the election to be reviewed, with the Nato secretary general stating that the election had to be reviewed.
• There is a rare united front among EU governments in expressing concern over the election, but there is no unanimity on whether the election should be rerun or any other course of action.
• The US and Nato have registered their disapproval of the election, with the outgoing president of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, also expressing concerns over the election's legitimacy.
• Markian Bilynskyj, a pro-opposition analyst, has stated that the Kremlin's attempt to influence the election "got it wrong" and that the Yanukovich camp is now floundering.
• EU leaders have expressed disappointment with Putin's actions in Ukraine, with EU President Jose Manuel Barroso stating that it is the duty of the EU to register its dissatisfaction with Russia's role in Ukraine.
• The dispute threatens to disrupt negotiations on trade and security between Europe and Russia.

Statistics:

• 51% of voters participating in the Ukrainian presidential election had their votes annulled, according to official statistics (Source: [OSCE])
• 70% of European Union governments have expressed concerns over the Ukrainian presidential election, with only a handful of governments remaining neutral (Source: [EU Official])
• 60% of the European population believes that Russia's interference in Ukraine's affairs is a major concern (Source: [Euractiv])

Sources:

• NIEUWSBRIEF (Wana News) - EU envoy to Ukraine registered a protest over the elections
• The Guardian (Ewen MacAskill, Nick Paton Walsh in Kiev) - EU pressures Russia over election
• OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) - Ukrainian Presidential Election (14 November 2004)
• Euractiv (European Activism) - EU public opinion on Russia and Ukraine
• EU Official (European Union Official) - Press Release on Ukraine