Anders Åslund: with his new trade war Putin is more likely to isolate Russia and force Ukraine into the European community

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21 August 2013, 16:24

“Although Ukraine is high on his political agenda, Putin seems to get it all wrong. His latest mistake is to toy with a trade war,” writes Åslund 

Expert also adds that “Yanukovych has put the Ukrainian economy in a miserable state. It has been in recession for the last year, and its international reserves are in quick decline, having fallen from a peak of $38 billion two years ago to $22.7 billion at present, covering only 2 1/2 months of imports. Neither the International Monetary Fund nor the EU is prepared to help Ukraine, given Yanukovych's poor economic and human rights policies.

READ ALSO: Expert: Ukraine for Russia: either a partner in the Eurasian Union, or a buffer zone

Putin's actions suggest that he is intent on forcing Yanukovych down on his knees. But  Putin is more likely to isolate Russia and force Ukraine into the European community.”

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