The seizure of Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait on Nov. 25 is not only yet another act of Russian aggression, as we understand it in Ukraine. It is reminder to the world that the annexation of Crimea is gradually becoming the new status quo in global politics and Western leaders have basically accepted this injustice. In turn, this is feeding the hawks in the Ukrainian authorities, who are trying to conserve power for the current kleptocratic elite by raising the stakes. This week, Ukraine’s parliament stopped the potential scenario of Ukraine sliding into authoritarianism after the Security Council proposed introducing martial law across the country. This would, in effect, have canceled the upcoming presidential elections on March 31. This situation has shown once again that Ukraine is like a swinging pendulum, where the prospect of reforms and strengthening democracy are constantly subject to the risk of revanche and corrupt affairs.
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This handout picture taken and released by Ukraine's presidential press-service shows Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko (L) welcoming Polish minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz prior to their meeting in Kiev on December 1, 2018. (Photo by MYKHAYLO MARKIV / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/MYKHAYLO MARKIV" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
