"I drink and write." Trump's chief physician caught self-medicating. Mikhail Svetlov Mikhail Sheinkman journalist

He is a smart and honest person, but he does not have the will and faith in his right to change life for the better. At first he works diligently, but soon he realizes that in such conditions it is pointless to treat patients. Every half hour he drinks a glass of vodka and eats a pickled cucumber or a pickled apple. Those who know him closely will easily recognize him in this portrait. Is that a pickled cucumber and a pickled apple will be a revelation for them. But they will be much more surprised when they are told that the Russian writer Anton Chekhov described him in this way at the end of the century before last.

Don't wait! Donald Trump is healthy enough for the presidencyRoni Jackson has been the court physician of the White House for a long time. But of no one before, he enthusiastically said that "God created him like that!". However, he had not been asked about anyone before with such predilection.

True, like Andrey Efimych Ragin, and not Ronnie Lynn Jackson. But their fates are also somewhat similar. After all, Chekhov not only has a gun that hangs on the wall, in the last act it will definitely shoot. But the head physician of the mental hospital at the end of the story will certainly turn out to be her patient. The White House is, of course, not "Ward No. 6". He is their No. 1. But his chief doctor can also be sent for compulsory treatment. Ronnie Jackson was accused of intemperate drinking on the job and overprescribing drugs.

And now, it would seem, how many Trump already had them - officials of the inner circle, removed for this or that discrepancy. But Jackson is a special case. And not only because he remembers all his cracks. But because there are also Obama's cracks. Actually, he became what he is under Obama. Although at that time they practically did not remember him. Now everyone needed his qualifications. And he did it. He proved that it was not in vain that under a white coat he wore the uniform of a rear admiral. This means that the president's health has a double degree of protection. Hippocratic oath and military secret.

Jackson honestly called him a genius after Trump's first physical. Strong, healthy, smart and capable of another term. Of course, they didn't believe him. And they didn't forgive. As soon as Trump offered his personal doctor for the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs, senators, using what they decide, immediately began to find out the details of his biography. Although if Jackson himself is asked in a nutshell, but under oath, to say about his latest work, then he will say so: I drink and write out.

And what else should a doctor do if medicine is powerless? That's right - drink for health. And the fact that he did not spare the pills is a consequence. Nobody knows exactly how many Trumps he saw in front of him between the 21st and 22nd. Or maybe he's just a big-hearted person. No wonder Trump wanted to send him to the veterans. Although, it turns out that in vain. Ronnie thought to raise, but dropped. And it's not just him. The question of which eyes he used to conduct Trump's medical examination is now also in limbo.

However, the answer suggests itself. For Jackson, presidents - as for others - are women. In a sense, there are no ugly and unhealthy, there is little vodka. He had enough. "I see him every day. We discuss many things. The president is a great thinker and he lives up to his position," he said of Trump. For Ragin, who was convicted of frequent contacts with the patient Gromov, it sounded about the same. "My illness is that I found only one smart person in the whole city, and that one is crazy!"

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Open and cheerful Mikhail Svetlov became famous thanks to the work "Grenada", which at one time was known to almost everyone. Aphorisms, quotes and epigrams of Svetlov instantly became iconic. He was seen as a poet who reflected the thoughts of modern young people of that time. The name of Svetlov became legendary, because the youth saw in him a poet who understands the emotional experiences of everyone.

Childhood and youth

Mikhail Arkadyevich Sheinkman, who in the future took the pseudonym Svetlov, was born on June 17 (4 according to the old style) in 1903 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (today the city of Dnepr) in the family of a poor Jewish bourgeois. Based on Mikhail's autobiography, the father and 10 Jewish acquaintances bought a pood of rotten pears and sold them by the pound. The income received went to the education of the boy, who at that time studied at the higher primary school. As for nationality, Michael is a Jew.

Before that, the boy studied with melamed, who was paid 5 rubles. Once the father found out that in a neighboring village they take 3 rubles, he came and told melamed that he agreed to 5 rudders, but asked to teach the boy Russian literacy in addition.

As Mikhail said, his cultural life began at the moment when his father brought a bag with the works of the classics into the house. This good cost 1 ruble 60 kopecks, but the books were not intended for the boy at all. The fact is that Mikhail's mother, Rakhil Ilyevna, was famous throughout the city for the production of fried seeds, and paper was needed for bags. But the stubborn boy wanted to read them and achieved his goal: the books went into bags only after reading.

The Sheinkmans lived very poorly, Mikhail spent the fee from the first publication on a large loaf of white bread so that the whole family could eat plenty of it. This event was so unusual that it will be remembered forever.

The young man graduated from the primary city school at the age of 14, after which he got a job at the commodity exchange and in private photography. Due to the First World War and the October Revolution, the future poet could not continue his education. After, in 1919, Mikhail was one of the first to join the Komsomol. At the age of 16, he already held the position of editor-in-chief of the magazine "Young Proletarian" and was in charge of the press department of the Dnepropetrovsk provincial committee of the Komsomol.

Mikhail Svetlov, Mikhail Golodny, Alexander Yasny, Maria Goldberg

For the first time Mikhail visited Moscow in 1920 together with friends M. Golodny and A. Yasny as a delegate of the First All-Russian Conference of Proletarian Writers. At that time, the young men invented pseudonyms for themselves, no doubt imitating the Poor.

Mikhail did not live long in Kharkov, from where, after 2 years, he moved to Moscow and went to study at the 1st Moscow State University. There he met Eduard Bagritsky, who became Mikhail's friend for many years.

Literature

The boy began to write poetry in 1917, the first poem by Mikhail Svetlov was published by the newspaper Voice of a Soldier in the same year. After moving to the capital, Svetlov's collections were published one after another: "Poems", "Roots", "Night Meetings", "Two", "Rabfakovka", "In Intelligence". Heroism and romance during the civil war can be traced in the works.

In poems about the war, all the romanticism of Svetlov's talent was manifested. In 1926, the unique work "Grenada" was created, which is a romantic and revolutionary story in the form of a ballad poem. The work "Grenada" was published in the newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda" on August 29, 1926, then the name of Mikhail Svetlov sounded throughout the country. The author considered this day his poetic birthday.

His "Grenada" even liked him. The resounding success of this work threatened Svetlov to become a poet of one poem, because the whole country knew "Grenada". This work was read in hostels, barracks, in the squares, it was even sung to popular tunes.

Evgeny Knyazev reads a poem by Mikhail Svetlov "Grenada"

In 1936, the war began in Spain. In the famous Grenada, Mikhail Svetlov literally foresaw the Spanish misfortune. The ballad poem was translated into many languages, and very soon all of Europe sang it. The journalistic film about the events of that time was called "Grenada, Grenada, Grenada is mine."

The next book, "Night Encounters", published in 1927, reflected the anxiety and confusion of those years. But even this time of crisis was fruitful in its own way for Mikhail. The author deepens the idea of ​​romanticism, connecting it with a joke. Over time, irony has become an integral feature of the author's creativity and poetic manner.

Mikhail's skepticism regarding the transition to the NEP, the growing careerism of party officials and the poet's appeal to the images of helpless and unfortunate people led to constant criticism of his work. In 1928, Mikhail Svetlov was expelled from the Komsomol "for Trotskyism."

In 1935, Mikhail Svetlov created another masterpiece - the poem "Kakhovka", which in the future also became a song. By this time, Mikhail, already a recognized lyric poet, turned to dramaturgy. His first play, Deep Province, was severely criticized by Pravda. In 1941, the play “Twenty Years Later” was staged, which was shown to the last by Soviet theaters.

Kirill Pletnev reads Mikhail Svetlov's poem "Italian"

In 1941, Svetlov made his way to the front through bans, as he did not want to stay away from the general disaster. The fact that Mikhail was looking for a place of service is evidenced by his autobiographical notes. During the Second World War, Svetlov served as a correspondent for the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, and after that he worked in the front-line press of the 1st Shock Army.

The most famous poem of the war years was the work "Italian", created in 1943. Because of the war, the play "Brandenburg Gate" was also written. In his work, Mikhail spoke a lot about the revolution, love and war.

In the mid-1950s, after a significant break, Svetlov experienced a surge of creative energy. The works of this time are characterized by a transition from lyrics to natural colloquialism. The last work of the author was the book "Hunting Lodge", released in 1964.

After Svetlov took up a teaching position at the Literary Institute, the writer was constantly surrounded by students. But despite the people around, the author was a lonely man. Over time, the poet's romance collided with reality.

Personal life

According to some sources, there were three beloved women in Mikhail's personal life. The first was Valentina, to whom in 1927 he dedicated a poem. After Mikhail met Elena, the girl was often called Lenochka, the future wife worked for the writer as a typist. Having married him, the woman graduated from the Faculty of Law. In 1936, the young people separated, the couple had no children.

The meeting with the last wife - Rodam Iraklievna Amirejibi - took place in 1938. To the capital, on May Day, a beautiful girl as part of the Georgian delegation was sent to present a gift from her homeland to a comrade.

At the last moment, controversial facts from the girl's biography surfaced: princely origin, her father was repressed and died in prison. Nevertheless, Rodam nevertheless walked along Red Square, but she was never allowed to see Stalin.

The woman had amazing beauty, in Georgia girls were called her royal name. She worked as an assistant director, held a teaching position at VGIK and wrote scripts. In 1939, Rodam and Mikhail had a son, Alexander (Sandro) Svetlov, who later became a screenwriter and director. Subsequently, Rodam married the physicist Bruno Pontecorvo.

Death

The life of Mikhail Arkadyevich Svetlov was truly full of paradoxes. Svetlov was always in the shadows, he did not like pomposity and presidiums. The man gave all the money he earned to people and sometimes he was left without money. He has been typing all his life on a typewriter in need of repair. The author was not attracted by fame, he loved people, but he himself tried to stay away because of his inherent modesty.

Long years of addiction to tobacco were not in vain - Svetlov was diagnosed with lung cancer. Even the wife of Rodam could not influence the stubborn Svetlov and force him to quit smoking. Being an ironic person, he even joked about his illness, because he did not want to upset his loved ones. While in the hospital, one day he asked Lidia Lebedinskaya to bring him a beer, “and I already have my own cancer!” Svetlov said.

The poet died on September 28, 1964 in Moscow, leaving a play dedicated to him unfinished. Mikhail Arkadyevich is buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery. 3 years after his death, Svetlov was posthumously awarded the only professional award - the Lenin Prize in the Poetry section.

Memory

• 1964 - Participated in an episode of a poetry evening at the Polytechnic in the feature film Ilyich's Outpost.
• October 5, 1965 - By the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, the City Youth Library No. 3 of the city of Moscow was named after the poet Mikhail Arkadyevich Svetlov. Today it is the Central City Youth Library. M. A. Svetlova, known as "Svetlovka".
• 1968 - The cinematic ocean cruise ship "Mikhail Svetlov" is named in the feature film "The Diamond Hand".
• 1985 - The river ship "Mikhail Svetlov" (Russia) was named. Photos can be found on the Internet.

Motor ship "Mikhail Svetlov"

• 1985 - Documentary "Meetings with Mikhail Svetlov"
• 2003 - Documentary "Beautiful name, high honor. Mikhail Svetlov»
• Several streets in the cities of the USSR were named after Mikhail Svetlov, as well as the Svetlovo microdistrict in the city of Kakhovka.
• One of the restaurants of the Moscow hotel complex Izmailovo in the Delta-Gamma building was also named after Mikhail Svetlov.
• In Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk region, a club is named after the poem "Grenada", and the street on which it is located is named after M. Svetlov.

Bibliography

• 1923 - "Rails"
• 1923 - "Poems about the Rebbe"
• 1924 - "Poems"
• 1925 - "Roots"
• 1927 - "Night meetings"
• 1927 - "In intelligence"
• 1928 - "Big Road"
• 1929 - "Book of Poems"
• 1929 - Selected Poems
• 1930 - "Grenada"
• 1931 - "Bugler"
• 1936 - "Deep Province"
• 1939 - "Fairy Tale"
• 1942 - "Twenty-eight"
• 1942 - "Fatherland of Heroes"
• 1942 - "Poems about Lisa Chaikina"
• 1957 - "Poems and plays".
• 1958 - "Apple song"
• 1959 - "Horizon"
• 1962 - "I'm for a smile!"
• 1964 - "The Love for Three Oranges"
• 1964 - "Hunting Lodge"

War communism. Latvia is ready to become a paradise for American soldiers

13.01.2017

Special shops with food and drink at duty-free prices. Plus freedom from prosecution for wrongdoing. Latvia is not just happy, but Eldorado. I agree to turn for the US military, if not into a city, then into a "base of the sun".

In the NATO social competition for the title of the most hospitable country on the eastern flank, it seems, there has been a leader. Although Poland, which was the first to meet American tanks, and Lithuania and Estonia, which are also looking out of the window impatiently in anticipation of the alliance's battalions, go out of their way to please. But Latvia is not just happy, but El Dorado. Ready to become for its defenders, if not a city, then a "base of the sun" and even build communism for them in a single country. I mean war communism. That is, communism, but only for the military. In an agreement with the United States, such turnovers, of course, will not be found. But they are quite readable between the lines.

How else to understand the clause according to which American fighters will receive immunity from criminal prosecution. Presumably, even if, like Zhvanetsky's, they arrive in a tank to the store, aim the muzzle and ask again: "How much?" Although it won't be required. The contract with Latvia provides for the supply of food and alcohol to the contingent at symbolic prices in special distributors. Whether dumping is provided for girls is not specified, but, apparently, bargaining is also appropriate there. If a person comes as a master. Other benefits include tax exemption. That is, NATO members will be able to make some capital on their patronage.

To the credit of the local authorities, it must be admitted that they resisted for a long time. Almost a year did not sign the agreement. But under the onslaught of a restless partner, this honor was nevertheless lost. Apparently, the possibility that Donald Trump might deny them military cover made them more pleasant with the Pentagon. And hurry up. A month later, a reinforcement battalion arrives in Latvia, and it already has something to eat. At the same time, foreign troops were treated here as the German authorities treated migrants. In a sense, they tried not to advertise their, so to speak, liberties.

Although last year guests violated the laws of hospitality a dozen times. Drunken fights, desecration of monuments, traffic accidents, etc. In other words, there is something to free them from right on the spot, so that they do not have to urgently flee. Like the Briton who brutally beat up a Latvian in fast food and was like that. London, by the way, did not even apologize. But now the Americans will not only get the same immunity here as they have in Lithuania and Estonia. In fact, Latvia will also become a moral offshore for them. In the sense that here they will be able to take away those inclinations for which they would have to answer for in their homeland.

Complete freedom from commandments. The conditions of service are such that they really have something to protect here. And you can also die. Boredom. Although NATO has not yet marked all the corners and sights here. Not all taxi rooftops danced. Not all bars were trashed. And not all natives were credited. In other words, while there is where to turn around. But at the same time unconditionally cope with the assigned combat mission. They also demand that Latvians not be afraid of Russians. So they will be afraid of the Americans. In the same way, the main thing to remember is that immunity is valid only in the territory of Latvia. That is, to the border with Russia.

Chest of the fourth person. The Bundeswehr went to "sexual orientation"

The German Defense Ministry has no doubt that the sexual education of personnel will increase the "competitiveness, flexibility and openness" of the German defense. The idea is definitely fresh.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen recalled that she still sits there as a woman. So, all they need is only love. Well, to the homeland - this is understandable. But also to your neighbor. Or to yours. Or, when you can’t immediately make out whether it’s yours or yours. In short, the head of the military department decided to teach subordinates to close ranks and turn around on the march, regardless of gender and, so to speak, preferences in choosing a partner. Soldiers and officers of the Bundeswehr, including, by the way, generals, will undergo a course of "sexual orientation".

Bild already knows the topic of the first seminar for advisers to the internal leadership of the army and unit commanders. "The Treatment of Sexual Identity and Orientation in the Defense Establishment". On the one hand, unexpectedly. But, on the other hand, let them say thank you that they are not forced, like American fighters sometimes, to walk in high heels, so that they understand what it is like. Although it is still unknown who and what exam they will have to take. Nevertheless, what else can they do in the Bundeswehr? In Germany, he really has nowhere to turn around. Around US military bases. For terrorists, too, as it turns out, look do not look - you still can’t keep track.

The Air Force doesn't fly. The guns don't fire. Machine guns are like sticks. Rather, sticks are used in exercises as automatic weapons. In the troops - confusion and vacillation. That's why they signed up for the defense of the Baltic states, so that at least some hundreds of bayonets seemed to be in business. But you can't send the whole army there. Already tried - not all came back. So they sat the rest at their desks, so that they also relieved the tension. If it is not possible to make soldiers of fortune out of them, let them at least try to become "gentlemen of fortune." This means "to teach from now to now. I will come and check."

Although, perhaps, in their case it was a completely different movie. Let's say, they once thought in their Ministry of Defense, where would they still attach their troops, so as not to hang around idle. "It would be nice to distract them with something," one of the officials suggested. "I, I, give ish fantastic," exclaimed Frau Leyen. Then someone remembered where he had heard it before. Maybe even last night. In general, word for word - sat down at the tables. Or, as they say at school, feet under the desk, hands on the desk. Still, it is better for the teacher to see them when there are such and such challenges.

The soldiers will be introduced to the "diversity and gay" course, which is followed by 17,000 servicemen in the Bundeswehr. Nearly almost 7%. Although, maybe already with some new kid. This business is set here on such a stream that every day is fraught with replenishment of the army of such lovers. But in the armed forces there is also a weaker sex, which also requires special treatment. In general, Ursula von der Leyen has no doubt that sex education will increase the "competitiveness, flexibility and openness" of the German defense. Another question - from which side, and whether the strength of the defense is accurate - is in its openness.

But orders are not discussed. Moreover, it is difficult in teaching, easy in the ranks. And if it is necessary to see in it the chest of the fourth person, then let at least every fourth person have it the fourth size. As for the actual educational process, after "sexual orientation" the fighters can be told, for example, where children come from. Well, someday later - why else do you need an army. Although, maybe it's better for them not to know about it.

"U-turn" over the Atlantic, or How Boris Johnson was replaced

Before the presidential election, he said that he would not go to America so as not to accidentally bump into Trump. But I went. It is for this. Let him not be allowed to see Trump. But his words will be passed on anyway.

In his case, this expression literally became "winged". He really changed his shoes in the air. Or maybe he changed. Something happened to him on the way from London to Washington, if it wasn't even a "turn over the Atlantic". coup. Consciousness. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson descended from heaven to American soil as a completely different person. The one that took off from Heathrow called for Russia to be punished. The one who found himself in the United States at a meeting with Trump's advisers and congressmen from among his supporters seemed to have forgotten the usual text. Therefore, probably, he copied the words from Trump himself.

"We draw attention to the fact that it would be insane to demonize Russia or drive it into a corner." In order not to be considered plagiarism, Johnson could say for persuasiveness: look, they say, at me - I tried it myself and this is what came of it. Split personality. It was he who called for the Kremlin to be considered an outcast. And now, he says, "with regard to Moscow, a dual strategy of involvement and vigilance should be pursued." This, presumably, is his version of "trust but verify". Most importantly, do not drive into a corner. Borya understood that the more you drive Russia into a corner, the bigger it becomes.

It is not known if anyone asked him what exactly caused such a "change of vocabulary" of his. Not the recommendation of Maria Zakharova. However, in any case, he could get out and answer that the one in London was a completely different Johnson. They have the Johnsons - through one. Not everyone, however, is in charge of the affairs of the Foreign Office. But as this one knows, perhaps everyone would be able to. All you need is to keep your nose to the wind. This, however, did not work right away. First turned against the wind. And not just the nose. Therefore, he appeared before Trump's people with a slightly tarnished reputation, but with the hope that he would be here ... and dried.

After all, before the presidential election, he said that he would not go to America either, so as not to accidentally bump into Trump. But I went. It is for this. Let him not be allowed to see Trump. But the words will pass. And that "London is first in line for a trade deal with Washington." And about the madness, from which Boris, presumably, was cured. In principle, for a trade agreement, he could not repeat such theses after Trump. And to appoint, for example, Nigel Farage as the British ambassador to the United States, as Trump wanted. Johnson, however, when he heard this, said that it was not Trump's business. But it was a completely different Johnson.

It can be called a weathervane. Or a werewolf. You may decide that you chose the wrong profession. Still, diplomacy is not considered the first ancient. But it seems that we should like it more. But just like it. Not more. After all, we remember how he already confessed his love to Russia and praised her for the liberation of Palmyra. And then for the same release, but Aleppo, sent damage to her. It was then that he said that he had only one weapon against Moscow - shame. Now, it turns out, he completely lost his shame.

Under Obama and counting on Clinton, he really wanted to deal with Russia differently. And, as they say, he acted, but did not act. All that remains in such cases is to go out onto the track and get into the cab of a new trucker, since the previous one has almost moved out. However, maybe Boris Johnson was actually switched on the plane. Like Nadezhda Savchenko. Well, you understand who could have done it.

14.03.2014
The President of the United States recognized Yatsenyuk as his man. Yatsenyuk's visit to America is commented by Mikhail Sheinkman, an observer for the Voice of Russia radio station:

The Ukrainian government, "Maidan" to the people, in principle, may not bother with the presidential campaign. Why, if the rebels have already chosen their own head? Even if he lives thousands of kilometers away and does not fit into the framework of independence in any way, but, as it turns out, you cannot find him closer in the whole world. He is both their father and mother.

Obama mom. Who else, as a native, can accept his "son of a bitch", if not the one who "produced" him? If we recall that Washington, through the mouth of Deputy Secretary of State Nuland, singled out the entire opposition brood as Yatsenyuk's favorite, "Yatsik", as they call him "white-house", then de facto the Ukrainian prime minister can be considered a product of American diplomacy.

Or her failure? After all, perhaps never before has Obama had to take such dubious personalities so close to his heart and let just anyone into his White House. Someone will say about his meeting with Yatsenyuk that he has condescended. Actually went down. Not everyone favors Yatsenyuk even on the Maidan.

But here, apparently, it is no longer up to fat. How rich. Although a billion is, of course, not the amount that will save the "fathers" of Ukrainian democracy. But, to show their participation in their fate, and it is enough. In addition, it is much more valuable, at least for Yatsenyuk, to breathe the same air of freedom with Obama.

The Ukrainian prime minister in the White House is the apotheosis of recognition that Obama needs almost more than Yatsenyuk. It seems that the President of the United States, with all his resources, not sparing himself, is trying to prove that he did not lose in Ukraine. Washington's actions quite fit the definition of "feverish".

There, apparently, they hoped that for Russia the Olympics would last forever. Or, at least, as long as it takes to deal with Ukraine once and for all. Obama clearly did not expect that Russia could win with the same Olympic calmness not only on sports grounds. Now he is frantically trying to win back, and just in case, Russian journalists are not invited to the meeting.

Nothing but ashamed of his confusion. Although, as they say, we didn’t see them there? Everything they could show is already on the Maidan. Having supported his mayhem in February, Washington is now issuing carte blanche to develop "success." And this is possible only by the same means. Therefore, should we be surprised at the ban on the broadcasting of Russian channels?

The White House allows you to bring the anti-Russian hysteria in Ukraine to frenzy and become personal. Naturally, he will not hear the words of the millionaire scumbag Balashov, who called on the crowd to kill people with St. George ribbons. And he probably won't want to know about the Russian pilots whom the Ukrainian border guards don't let out of the planes into the rest room between flights. The stormy applause with which the Maidan drowns out conscience is important to him.

The situation in Crimea Yatsenyuk discussed with Obama behind closed doors. Is it because the same Parubiy, who, being the commandant of the Maidan, did not let the SBU officers clean up the Philharmonic from hired killers, is involved in the security of Ukraine? According to the ex-head of the department Yakimenko, no one could get into the building without the knowledge of Parubiy. Especially with an optical sight. This is the question of who the snipers worked for. Having headed the Security Council, Parubiy did not change his habits, so the information that the National Security and Defense Council and the Right Sector are preparing sabotage in Crimea can be trusted without knowing the source.

Not the fact that Yatsenyuk dedicated Obama to such subtleties. Why should a person know this, to whom his ambassador in Kyiv reports everything anyway? Obama promised that Russia would pay for Crimea. It is not known what he meant, but he said, as according to Freud. Whoever controls the country sets the price for it. True, this has nothing to do with Crimea. It's not for sale. He is coming back.

From the editor: A vote in the US Senate on a bill to provide financial assistance to Ukraine has been postponed until at least the end of March. This was reported to journalists in the apparatus of the upper house of the US Parliament. According to these data, this is the decision of the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Garry Reid.

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There was not a penny, and suddenly - paper ... Ukraine, as a decent country, should still be grateful to the Customs Union only for the fact that it exists. Let alone from her. But it is in this capacity - always as a pretext for blackmailing Europeans ...

Recently, an interesting dialogue took place on the radio “Voice of Russia” between two extraordinary thinking people - a well-known Ukrainian political scientist Vadim Karasev and Russian - "non-bordered" - political journalist Mikhail Sheinkman on a very topical, one can even resort to such an expression - a burning one - the topic: "Where did Ukraine rush - to the East or to the West?". We bring to the attention of readers of the Politics and Money portal inclined to an analytical view of what is happening a recording of this really meaningful conversation.

- ... But Ukrainian officials only had to hint to the West that Kyiv could change its foreign policy orientation and think about joining the alliance of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. And then Brussels changed anger for the verdict Tymoshenko for mercy. Though mercy is delayed, said the columnist Mikhail Sheinkman. And continued:

20 October European Commissioner for Trade Carl de Gucht announced that the text of the agreements reached on a deep and comprehensive free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU is already ready, and the implementation of this project depends only on the will of Kyiv. In an interview with Ukrainian journalists in Brussels, he explained what this means. “We cannot start ratification and signing until the political conditions are created, and this should be done by the Ukrainian authorities.”

The European Commissioner expressed the hope that such conditions will appear "in the coming days, in the coming weeks." At the same time, he refused to answer a clarifying question whether it was only about the ex-premier's case. In general, it turns out "neither yes nor no." Although in Kyiv they already say that this is just some kind of holiday. And they call it their diplomatic victory. They think how subtly and creatively they managed to play on the conflict of interests between the two economic centers of influence - the EU and the Customs Union.

After that, Yanukovych even allowed himself verbal indulgence towards Tymoshenko. And he expressed the hope that she would be able to prove her innocence in the court of appeal. It only follows from this that he personally will not interfere in this process in any way. However, this became obvious already when his people in the Verkhovna Rada once again refused to decriminalize the article under which Tymoshenko received a term.

At the same time, taking into account the fact that living judges with knowledge of the case (and not only criminal, but also political) sit on the appeal, we can assume that they will correctly understand the presidential message. The ex-premier, of course, will not be acquitted, but they can change the preventive measure. Whether this will be sufficient for the EU is difficult to say now.

Yanukovych frankly disappointed. So far he has been denied an audience in Brussels only once. But disappointment is not a one-time feeling. This is an attitude. And these are doubts about decency. Well, of course, in the form in which the West imagines it. And this is serious. And apparently, Yanukovych will not get off with Tymoshenko's release alone. Moreover, another very promising and criminally punishable case was hung on her - writing off the debts of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) company to the Russian Ministry of Defense to the state budget.

In other words, the existence of agreements with the EU by no means frees Yanukovych from responsibility. Even despite the fact that Brussels does not hide its interest in Ukraine as a suitable territory for trade and economic expansion. And now for the West it is all the more important. After Kyiv signed the agreement on the CIS free trade zone. In Europe, of course, they are convinced that this does not offend them at all. But it is clear that the West is losing momentum and losing the initiative.

By the way, Kiev is already starting to calculate bonuses from joining the CIS free trade zone. According to Prime Minister Azarov, this will annually bring the country over two billion dollars. He is confident that Ukraine has received a chance that it has not had all 20 years of independence. So far, this cannot be said about the EU here. And it seems that there are agreements, but so far this is only a paper and not a prospect at all.

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In Brussels, they say that agreements on a free trade zone with Ukraine are already ready. Now it is up to Kyiv to bring the situation in his country into a proper political form. What conditions are we talking about, and is Kyiv able to fulfill them?..

Political scientist Vadim Karasev: - If we talk about foreign policy conditions, then we are talking about the termination of selective justice, the termination of cases against former officials of the Cabinet of Ministers and now political oppositionists. This is not only the case of Tymoshenko, but also Lutsenko, Ivashchenko, Korneychuk and a number of others.

If we are talking about a more complete political conditionality, which should be documented, then we are talking about the fact that Ukraine must demonstrate its readiness to sign not only agreements on a free trade area with the European Union, but also an agreement on political association.

The agreement on the political association of the Ukrainian authorities is unfavorable, because it implies, firstly, the introduction of 60% of European legislation into the Ukrainian legislative field. Secondly, it determines the political obligations of the Ukrainian authorities, which it must bear within the framework of the European Union. There is a mismatch of priorities here. Moreover, Yanukovych, due to domestic political considerations, does not want to release Yulia Tymoshenko.

Therefore, in December the agreement on a free trade zone and political association can only be initialed. But it will not be ratified by European parliaments. Therefore, it will remain a formal document, and relations between the European Union and Ukraine will be frozen. That is, the European perspective of Ukraine will be postponed, at least put on a long pause. I think for a few years, for sure.

Mikhail Sheinkman: - Some political scientists say that the official Kyiv almost deliberately disrupts negotiations with the European Union. How do you feel about this opinion?

Vadim Karasev: - Not really. This would have been consciously done if Yanukovych had already clearly focused on the Customs Union. But I don't think that the Ukrainian authorities are ready to give up part of their sovereignty. Here, too, one must bear political obligations, here, too, one must share power - only with a stronger, more powerful center. Therefore, it is unlikely.

Yanukovych is trying to maneuver, to bluff in both directions, to play the traditional Ukrainian foreign policy game of “multi-vector” in order to figure out how to move forward towards the end of November, by the beginning of December.