Kuchma's 2004 costitutional reforms actually prevented any meaningful reform and left the oligarchs in their place. On his part Yushchenko, victim of his own desire to find a compromise with the old power, vetoed a second round of privatizations, which would have limited the oligarchs, causing a fierce contrast with Tymoshenko and her dismissal.
After his election, Yanukovych made approve an uncostitutional modification of the parliamentary regulations, strengthening his role to the detriment of other institutions.
Ukraine needs a firm leadership, in order to remedy the very high public debt. Yanukovych's grab on the power testifies to his will to be the sole political leader in the country. In order to widen its action in Ukraine and confront Russia, the European Union should form the future Ukrainian leading class by widening cultural and university exchanges: an “Europeanization” of Ukraine's best forces is the most profitable long-term project that the Eu has at its disposal.