Captain Ed notes that Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko isn’t taking any guff from Moscow, and recently cancelled a trip to Russia in protest over the perception that Russia was treating Ukraine as an inferior — a long-standing tradition for Moscow.
Timoshenko is one of the more colorful figures on the world stage today. She’s bright, ambitious, determined, and well, yes, rather easy on the eyes as well. The Russians hate her because she’s been a thorn in their side ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union and is an ardent believer in Ukrainian independence and freedom from Russian interference. Along with Yushchenko, Timoshenko was instrumental in bolstering public support for the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. At the same time, she’s not exactly the most diplomatic individual either, as this latest incident clearly demonstrates.
There have been persistant rumors about tensions between herself and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, rumors she denies. However, one thing is quite clear: Timshenko is an absolute believer in her country, a true patriot, and one of the strongest supporters of the Orange Revolution (including her frequent public apparences in orange attire).
Prime Minister Timoshenko could well be one of the most powerful women in international politics since Lady Thatcher, no small feat indeed.
