Question: How can one tell whether Putty is happy or mad? The forced smile and expression is the same.UKRAINE'S Western-minded new President, Viktor Yushchenko, risked further aggravating Moscow yesterday when he appointed Yuliya Tymoshenko, his outspoken ally, as acting Prime Minister, despite the Kremlin's objections. Mr Yushchenko made the appointment shortly before flying to Moscow for talks designed to mend ties with President Putin, who backed his opponent, Viktor Yanukovych, in the election. It was a highly provocative choice, coming the day after Mr Yushchenko had pledged at his inauguration to lead Ukraine out of the circle of corrupt, authoritarian postSoviet states and into the European Union.
This just in: Yushchenko won the election. Hello?
Mrs Tymoshenko, 44, is one of Mr Yushchenko's key allies and financial backers (a Ukranian dish) and was perhaps the most inspirational figure in the Orange Revolution that overturned the rigged election in November. She is, however, wanted in Russia on charges of bribing defence officials in the 1990s and is widely reviled in Russian-speaking eastern and southern Ukraine as antiRussian. She has denied the charges, which she says are politically motivated. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on the appointment, which was announced as Mr Yushchenko began talks with Mr Putin. The Ukrainian leader, making his first official trip, told Mr Putin: "This is a sign of great respect for our relations. Russia is our eternal strategic partner."
Mr Putin received Mr Yushchenko warmly, despite the Kremlin's humiliating foreign policy failure. "Recently we did only that which was asked of us by the Ukrainian Government (crooks)," he said. "We only hope that we can also have the same friendly relationship with you." Nevertheless, Russia — Ukraine's main energy supplier and biggest trade partner — could try to scupper Mr Yushchenko's efforts to deliver the reforms that he has promised if he does not agree to compromise. Mr Putin wants him to commit Ukraine to economic and political bodies grouping former Soviet republics. Mr Yushchenko appears to be determined to move Ukraine towards the West.
English translation: Yush, watch your back.