Kiev protesters gather, EU dangles aid promise

[newthinking]

3. That gas subsidy is crucial-This will seriously hurt their people

Having relatives there, I have been very hopeful in their integrating with the EU. But the more I hear about how the EU is going about it the more concerned I am that indeed, as Yanukovich is declaring, it could really hurt people there.

The reason that the government subsidizes the cost of gas to the population is because it keeps the bulk of their population from living in unheated housing in winter. Why does the WTO care so much about this essentially social program that they must do this to their people (make them bear the full retail cost)?

As for the "bidding war", Ukraine has massive farmlands that would be of incredible benefit to the EU once they are properly developed. That is worth a lot for the EU. There is a case to be made that more help in making the transition better for the Ukrainian people would be a good investment for both Ukraine and the EU.