How can NATO’s on-going show of force in the Balkans influence Ukrainian attitudes toward the West?

I will express my personal opinion. The attitude toward NATO pressure in the Balkans in different post-Socialist countries depends on how structured their political elite’s attitude toward the alliance is. The attitude of the Ukrainian elite to NATO is polarized while that of the population is ambivalent. It has to be expected that should NATO apply force in Kosovo, the negative attitude toward it among Leftists and pro-Russia political forces will strengthen. However, this conflict differs principally from that in Bosnia – it is of an internal character. Should it be resolved by internal forces it can be accepted differently in Ukraine also by those representatives of the political elite and the society who do not favor the Communists and have a moderate attitude toward the West.

Regarding society’s overall attitude toward the West I do not think that one or two events could change it in a cardinal fashion – it will remain contradictory in the near future. It is something else again that such an attitude is constructed by a clear stance of country’s leadership that has to enunciate and take the responsibility for it. And here we deal with such a variety of undefined positions that means in fact either keeping silent or lacking any stance.

As to my mind, every kind of armed escalation of the Kosovo conflict is unacceptable. Sure, many things will depend on the Serbian leadership’s ability to reach a compromise and keep its promises.But a comparison with Iraq, for instance, shows that applying power does not ultimately solve a problem.