Anna Shelest: It is important that closest Moscow allies disapprove of its actions against Ukraine

The reaction of the international community on the Russian actions in Ukraine is quite quick and adequate, considering that both for the EU and for US statements made by Moscow came as a surprise.

What role do EU and US play in resolving the conflict situation in Ukraine? How adequate is the reaction of the international community on the situation in Crimea and south-eastern part of the country?

These questions EuroBelarus Information Service discussed with Anna Shelest, PhD of political science, senior scientist of the National institute for strategic studies in Odessa, Ukraine.

- We always want more from our partners than they can give. But assessing the efficiency or adequacy of the decisions made by US and EU we should understand that they act within the framework of their domestic and foreign policy, economy, forthcoming election or international legal instruments, which exist today. For more than 15 years debate about reforming the UN Security Council is going on. In the Council Russia has the right of veto, which prevents UN from using its mechanisms.

Europe and US are well aware of what is going on; they have no illusions. The other thing is that they were absolutely unprepared and refused to believe that the situation would have worsened that much, to the times of the Cold War, to becoming a farce. Though, if we compare the situation in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine in 2014 we’ll see that the EU drew certain conclusions, and its actions became much more efficient and adequate.

In the contemporary world military force is the last argument. And I believe that Ukrainians don’t want to see American or European army at their territory; not because they don’t want protection, but because Ukrainians want to resolve their problems without assistance. Economic sanctions are controversial, too, as they often turn out to be inefficient. However, point sanctions or pressure exerted on certain representatives can be efficient. The refusal to participate in G8 summit is only a diplomatic demarche and doesn’t change the situation.

I think that in the current situation it is important to analyze not only the political stance of the EU and US, but also that of Turkey, China and Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus as Russia’s closest allies. It is important that these countries not only disapprove of Moscow actions against Ukraine, but also consider the possible consequences.