Blue &Yellow: Politics and Economics in Ukraine

Two RFE/RL pieces on NATO's decision not to offer a MAP to Ukraine.   The first one focuses on Georgia and reminds us that Georgia and Ukraine are unfortunately tied together. Unfortunate,  because  means that both will have to progress in meeting NATO standards before NATO gives them a MAP.  The second article  argues that NATO expansion has not ended, but will come eventually. 

Georgia and Ukraine's best hope for eventually winning NATO membership, analysts say, is to push ahead with military reforms and hope the international environment turns more favorable to their aspirations.

"I think the hope in NATO and in the incoming Obama administration is that after a few years of nitty-gritty military reform, maybe after a few years both Georgia and Ukraine will look like more credible candidates and maybe the wider political climate will be more favorable," Lucas says.

In addition to reforming their militaries to meet NATO standards, both countries also have a lot of work to do on the political front.