Putin makes fresh move to woo Kiev
A day after European and US officials held talks with Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich in Kiev, Putin used a state-of-the-nation address to tout the economic benefits of joining a customs union that he wants Ukraine to be part of.
Yanukovich — who is seeking the best possible deal for his country of 46m as it tries to stave off bankruptcy — provoked street protests in Kiev by spurning the chance to sign a free-trade pact with the EU last month and saying he wanted to revive ties with Russia instead. But he has hedged his bets by making no commitment to join the Moscow-led customs union and holding out the possibility that Kiev could still sign an association accord that would deepen co-operation with the EU.
