Ukraine should be able to have a partnership with Europeans and at the same time continue to have strong ties with Russia

'Ukraine shouldn’t be made to choose between Russia and Europe'

Ukraine should be able to have its cake and eat it too; it can have a partnership with Europeans and at the same time continue to have strong ties with Russia, political researcher Charles Kupchan told RT

RT: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is now in Ukraine along with many other foreign lawmakers and diplomats. Is this the sort of visit we would see in another European country in crisis?

Charles Kupchan: I think Ukraine is looming large in the minds of diplomats from the US and Europe today for two different reasons. One is that there's a hope that violence can be avoided, and that, whatever the outcome of the stalemate between Yanukovich’s government and opposition, there isn't a decision to use security forces that ends up in bloodshed. And the second issue is that Ukraine is to some extent caught between turning toward Russia and turning toward the EU and churning its political and economic future. And I think the EU is somewhat upset that the accession discussions, the partnership that was emerging, seems to have been scuttled in favor of an alignment with Russia. And at this point there is leverage that is being deployed both by US and EU diplomats to see if they can push Kiev back in the direction of Europe.

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