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In einem multinationalen Land wie der Ukraine ist die Sprachenfrage ein sensibles Thema. Schnell wird Sprache zum Politikum. Das zeigte der ungeschickte Versuch, kurz nach dem Sturz Viktor Janukovycs das Sprachengesetz von 2012 aufzuheben und den Status des Russischen abzuwerten. Dies war Wasser auf die Mühlen der Gegner des Majdan. Die Ukraine braucht eine neue Sprachenpolitik. Ausgangspunkt müssen die Menschenrechte sein. Eine positive Einstellung zur sprachlichen Vielfalt und zur besonderen Rolle des Ukrainischen als Symbol der nationalen Unabhängigkeit sollte Kernelement der Sprachenpolitik sein. Es gilt, die russischsprachigen Bürger ihrem Land nicht zu entfremden und gleichzeitig Bedingungen für eine bessere Beherrschung und breitere Verwendung des Ukrainischen zu schaffen. (Osteuropa (Berlin) / SWP)

The beginning of the presidential campaign in Ukraine has produced foreign policy statements that differ markedly from the usual rhetoric of European integration. Except for the incumbent, Viktor Yushchenko, all prominent candidates display rather reserved attitudes towards the West in general and the European Union in particular. Moreover, in contrast to the earlier criticism of Yushchenko's "Euro-romanticism", some candidates now go beyond presenting it as an established fact that the EU is not going to admit Ukraine and question the expediency of the very attempt. Although most candidates call for Ukraine's balanced relations with the West and Russia, disappointment with the former will lead to a greater dependence on the latter

The opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych obtained a clear if narrow victory (49 percent versus 45.5 percent for then Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko) and has been sworn in as Ukraine's president for the next five years. He first faces the challenge of acquiring a majority in parliament and forming a government, after which his policies are likely to be dominated by dealing with Ukraine's dire economic situation and by satisfying the interests of his heterogeneous financial supporters. This complex domestic context will shape the priorities of his foreign policy and his approaches to relations with Russia and the European Union