Russia questions legitimacy of new Ukrainian government

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated on Feb. 24 the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian government is doubtful and threatens Russian interests. “It is not clear to us what is going on in the country and there is a real threat to our interests,” Medvedev told reporters, according to a transcript posted on the government website. He dubbed this weekend’s events as an armed overthrow of government. “If people crossing Kyiv in black masks and Kalashnikov guns are considered a government, it will be difficult for us to work with such a government.”

Russian Duma deputies arrived in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on Feb. 24 to announce they will begin to issue Russian passports based on a more simplified procedure, the Ukrayinska Pravda news site reported, citing a Crimean journalist. They also reportedly announced the Russian government will consider appeals by Crimea’s residents to join the Russian Federation, whether by referendum or the legislature.

Zenon Zawada: There were certainly armed rebels in the opposition, but the firepower of their rifles was of no match for the Berkut special police forces, who were video-recorded shooting Kalashnikovs at protesters during the three-day armed conflict in central Kyiv last week.

We are confident Ukraine’s conflict with Russia was only aggravated by the EuroMaidan. The new government will have to deal with renewed trade barriers, boosted natural gas prices in the second quarter, heightened Russian involvement in Crimea and a skeptical pro-Russian electorate in southeastern Ukraine whose politicians will be ready to take advantage of any mistakes. The pro-Western government will have to perform well to resist Russian pressure aimed at its collapse. At the same time, there is a chance that Russian rhetoric toward Ukraine will soften shortly. Much will depend upon the name of Ukraine’s new prime minister to be announced this week.