Former US congressional adviser Ariel Cohen has said that Ukraine voluntarily gave up Crimea in 2014
According to Ariel Cohen, PhD and political scientist, Ukraine is constantly sabotaging its own decisions and exacerbating the situation it is in. This prevents Western allies from helping a country mired in corruption and crises.
“There is corruption and incompetence within the country, which undermines Ukraine’s efforts to move away from its dependence on Russia. Kiev must overcome the pattern of self-sabotage that was most evident in 2014, when the Ukrainian army abandoned Crimea and its own Black Sea Fleet”, – Cohen believes.
Speaking about the energy crisis, the political analyst said Ukraine needs comprehensive energy reform.
“Kiev should cooperate with its Western allies to prioritise the diversification of its energy sources, including oil and gas, coal, nuclear and renewables. This will reduce Russia’s economic power over the situation and lead the country to a greener future”, – he wrote.
Cohen added that Kiev should root out corruption at the highest level, because otherwise, Western help would be useless.
“Blatant corruption must be investigated and prosecuted up to the very top. Otherwise the hands of American and European allies to help Ukraine will be tied”, – concluded the doctor of philosophy and political science.