News

Current Situation in Ukraine: Discussion on May 31

The well-known Ukrainian journalist and editor Vitaly Portnikov will hold a public lecture in Tallinn on Monday, May 31, analyzing the recent political developments in Ukraine. The lecture will be followed by a discussion with Evhen Tsybulenko, professor at the Tallinn University of Technology and Evgenij Krishtafovich, leader of the youth association Open Republic.

Despite his promises to develop relations with both Russia and the EU, the steps taken by the newly elected Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych have so far clearly benefited Russia rather than Europe. At the end of April, Ukraine and Russia ratified a deal extending the stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol until 2042. The two countries are also discussing the possible merger of Ukraine’s energy giant Naftogaz and Russian Gazprom. Among other issues, the discussion on Monday will analyze if Yanukovych’s close relationship with Ukraine’s Eastern neighbor could be seen as a threat to Ukraine’s democracy and independence.

Vitaly Portnikov is a freelance journalist and editor, who has published articles in numerous different media outlets in Ukraine, Russia and Europe. Since 1989, he works as the analyst of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Ukraine), specializing in post-Soviet countries, and cooperates with the Russian and Ukrainian services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Since the beginning of May, Portnikov is the chief editor of the Ukrainian TV station TVi, which is considered to be one of the few TV-channels in Ukraine with independent and fair TV news coverage.

Additional information:

Kelly Grossthal
tel 6313791
e-mail kelly@oef.org.ee