Ukrainians overthrow their president

Over the last few days, since our last post on the subject, 88 Ukrainians died in clashes between pro-Western protesters and the Russian-dominated government.  But then the Parliament convened, re-imposed the Constitution, and removed President Viktor Yanukovych from office.  He is now on the run, as the newly-formed government wants to arrest him.

The question now is, what will Russia do?

A useful backward Chronology of events in the Ukraine drama from the New York Times, with links to the pertinent articles:

Feb. 25, 2014

News analysis; Pres Obama has approached 2014 revolution in Ukraine with clinical detachment aimed at avoiding instability; approach is in stark contrast to Pres George W Bush’s democracy-promoting response to Ukraine’s Orange Revolution of 2004; while sympathetic to Ukraine’s pro-Western protestors, Obama has not made global aspirations of democracy the animating force of his presidency.MORE »

Feb. 24, 2014

Ukraine Pres Viktor F Yanukovych appears to have clung to illusion that he would hold on in final hours before his ouster; had taken time to attend signing ceremony for peace deal and congratulate Ukraine’s Olympic team, discovering only too late that his allies had deserted him while throngs of protesters called for his blood.MORE »

Feb. 24, 2014

Ukrainian lawmakers move swiftly to assert control over the government, racing to restore calm after week of upheaval and bloodshed that ended in Pres Viktor F Yanukovych’s flight and ouster; Parliament, in special session and fearful that country might fall into civil war, fires top cabinet members, grants expanded powers to new speaker Oleksandr V Turchynov, and restores state ownership of the presidential palace.MORE »

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