Ukraine Prime Minister Resigns...

[Bob Of Burleson]

...as Kiev Moves Toward Elections

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
The New York Times

KIEV, Ukraine — Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, a pro-Western technocrat who has guided the Ukrainian government through the tumultuous months since the ouster of President Viktor F. Yanukovyvch, resigned abruptly on Thursday, after the governing coalition of Parliament collapsed.

“I declare my resignation in connection with the collapse of the coalition and blocking of government initiatives,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said from the rostrum of Parliament.

Earlier in the day, two major parties announced they were leaving the governing coalition, a step that would allow President Petro O. Poroshenko to dissolve Parliament and call elections for the fall.

That announcement followed weeks of negotiations between the parties, but the move was not supported by Mr. Yatsenyuk’s Fatherland Party, which is led by the former prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, who had challenged Mr. Poroshenko for the presidency.

In his speech to Parliament, Mr. Yatsenyuk warned that the political maneuvering and the rush to early elections risked paralyzing the government and had already led to its failure to adopt crucial amendments to the budget.

MORE

[Zephyr]

I heard he resigned to accept the coaching job at Appalachian State.

[planosteve]

They are loosing the war. Nobody wants to be responsible.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko
Welcomes Breakup of Ruling Coalition
Development Sets Stage for Elections That Could Strengthen the Popular Leader

By James Marson in Moscow
and Katya Gorchinskaya in Kiev, Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine's ruling coalition broke up Thursday and the prime minister submitted his resignation, setting the stage for parliamentary elections that could strengthen popular President Petro Poroshenko's hand even as the country's army battles a three-month separatist insurgency in its east.

The Obama administration is accusing Russia of firing artillery to hit Ukrainian military sites and planning to send pro-Russian separatists more lethal weaponry. Janine Davidson, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for defense studies, offer analysis on the News Hub with Sara Murray. Photo: Getty Images.

A fight broke out in Ukraine's parliament between pro-Russian Communist Party leaders and members of a pro-government faction. What was this latest scuffle about? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer

Polls show that pro-Western parties, led by Mr. Poroshenko's, would sweep the elections, and that pro-Russia parties might not cross the 5% threshold necessary for a parliamentary presence for the first time in Ukraine's 23 years of independence.

But holding new elections across the whole country will require a quick military victory over Russia-backed militants dug in around several cities in Ukraine's east. The army has made steady advances against the rebels in recent days, but Ukrainian officials say its task is made harder by the continued flow of Russian fighters and heavy weapons across the border.

MORE