Opinion: Yanukovich consults the wrong president

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Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich does not pursue an independent foreign policy, deputy head of Our Ukraine Donetsk cell Viktor Levitsky told a REGNUM correspondent commenting on the Ukrainian prime minister’s visit to the United States.

“The matter does not concern the fact that he does not consult the president on every issue, and in accordance with the constitution, the president is in charge for the country’s foreign policy. It is sad to say it, but Yanukovich and his whole cabinet consult the wrong president concerning the foreign policy. A certain line can be traced: loud statements by Yanukovich in Brussels, ignoring the NATO summit in Riga, his trip to Washington where he clearly stated that the Euro-integration and EU direction remains unchanged, but we should take our time with NATO,” Levitsky said. According to him, it shows that first of all the prime minister takes into account Russia’s interests.

“Such policy is stipulated by the ‘friendly’ relations with our northern neighbor that does not want to have a common border with a NATO member-country. The premier’s foreign policy is absolutely dependant, but, unfortunately, it does not depend on directives” from the secretariat of the Ukrainian president, the deputy head of the Our Ukraine cell believes.