What does Ukraine have to do to get real help from the West?
I think rather the really difficult economic reality of Ukraine is now setting in with investors, with economic activity collapsing. Industrial production is down over 20 percent year-on-year in August, and production in Donetsk and Luhansk almost halted. The National Bank of Ukraine is really struggling to defend the hryvnia, as exports are collapsing, and sentiment with it. As a National Bank of Ukraine offical said today,demand for FX is very high again.
And what about Western support?
Well I think there was an argument that Ukraine was simply too important to fail - but let's face it, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko went to Washington, D.C., and made the speech of his life on Sept. 18.
"Live free, or die." He is not naturally a star public speaker, but he hit this one totally out of the park - 13 standing ovations and hegot absolutely "nada" from U.S. President Barack Obama.
It makes you ask what Poroshenko and Ukraine needs to do to get even a modicum of support from the West. And I guess therein, this is the realisation dawning on investors - i.e. don't hold your breath for an open cheque book for Ukraine from the West.
http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/timothy-ash-what-does-ukraine-have-to-do-to-get-real-help-from-the-west-365607.html
Live free, or die ..............oh fuck off and find something original to say.
