Sir, Gideon Rachman indicates that last weekend’s presidential election has set back Ukraine's joining the wider European community (“Oranges and lemons in Ukraine”, February 8). Although Viktor Yanukovich’s apparent victory will create the headline that Ukraine will move away from Europe and towards Russia, the result may have the opposite effect. His victory can be a wake-up call for the European Union regarding membership for Ukraine
There will be concerns and some fear in Europe about the potential consequences of Mr Yanukovich’s victory. After the Orange revolution the EU dragged its feet about Ukrainian membership. It indicated either that Ukraine still was not ready or that it was not ready for the acceptance of Ukraine. There is nothing like fear to cause action. The Yanukovich victory could be the catalyst for the EU to feel a need to act at last on Ukrainian membership, out of concern over the alternative.
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