Kiev Faces a Complex Crisis

On May 2, Ukrainian forces restarted their military operation in eastern Ukraine. By May 4, Kiev reportedly controlled most of Kramatorsk, and security forces had surrounded Slovyansk, a stronghold for pro-Russian militants. Authorities struggled to maintain order in the southern city of Odessa, where more than 40 people were killed in May 2 clashes and where pro-Russian protesters stormed a police station May 4 and released detainees with little police interference. 

 

On April 30, the International Monetary Fund had approved a $17 billion aid package for Ukraine, with the first tranche scheduled for disbursement in early May. The developments underscore the twofold crisis facing the government in Kiev. Most immediately, authorities are struggling to exert power in the country's eastern regions. Meanwhile, despite financial and political support from the West, the country's substantial economic woes will probably only grow worse.

 

The crisis threatens to further destabilize Ukraine's interim government, creating gridlock that will prevent the country's leadership from responding effectively to military and economic challenges and could open the door for the Kremlin to push back against Western influence in Kiev.