Brussels takes Ukraine drama in its stride

The collapse of Ukraine's 'orange coalition' prompted fights in the country's parliament on Tuesday (11 July), but the news was met with calm in Brussels.

Konstantin Yelisieiev, the deputy head of the Ukrainian mission to the EU, said that the result of the election would do nothing to alter Ukraine's desire to develop deeper ties with the EU.

EU diplomats played down fears of Ukraine backtracking on reforms. They said that they expected all Ukraine's parties, with the exception of the Communists, to support closer EU ties.

They added that Viktor Yanukovich, the pro-Russian, who lost out to Viktor Yushchenko in the elections of December 2004, has softened his stance towards the EU.

The collapse of Ukraine's 'orange coalition' prompted fights in the country's parliament on Tuesday (11 July), but the news was met with calm in Brussels.