The victory of Yulia Tymoshenko in the upcoming presidential elections in March next year could lead to a change in the tone of Kyiv in its dialogue with Moscow.
Kommersant’s sources in the Verkhovna Rada speak about this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Thus, according to the deputy from the “Radical Party” Igor Popov, one of the likely and most dangerous scenarios for President Poroshenko is a “consensus of oligarchs” ready to support Yulia Tymoshenko.”
“If she wins the elections, Tymoshenko can form a conditionally pro-Russian coalition, in the style of Bidzina Ivanishvili in Georgia, who also talks about the territories occupied by Moscow, which does not interfere with doing business with her and resolving issues. Such a coalition could include Batkivshchyna, the Radical Party, For Life, and the Opposition Bloc. However, it is not a fact that this coalition will be formalized,” says Popov.
It is noteworthy that political strategists from the presidential team will focus on Tymoshenko’s readiness to negotiate with Moscow.
“How are we going to build a campaign? To convey to voters the idea that in reality they will have to choose between Poroshenko and Putin, and it is Tymoshenko who represents Putin’s interests. Such polarization will allow many to open their eyes and get rid of illusions,” one of the employees of the presidential administration of Ukraine told the publication.