Ukraine PM says will stick to austerity despite Moscow pressure

[reACTIONary]

18. Interesting cable...

7. (C) Pynzenyk appeared to deliver his message not in anger, but in sorrow for the country and in frustration at his inability to convince Tymoshenko to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the economic crisis for reform. His indictment of Tymoshenko was particularly damning coming from a man who saw it all from the inside. Pynzenyk is not an oligarch but an economics professor, one of the few we have found in high-levels of government in Ukraine. It is unfortunate that Tymoshenko,s unwillingness to make the hard decisions has cost the country dearly, not only in terms of larger deficits, greater public debt, and declining GDP, but also in that she has driven out intelligent, reform-minded officials, such as Pynzenyk.

He sounds like a patriotic individual with the best interest of his country in mind and the knowledge to make good decisions. Ukraine could have benefited from his council, and if they had followed this advice back then they would be much further ahead today.