bne Newspaper May 23 2014

Page 1

Content: 2 Top Stories 5 The Regions This Week 10 Eastern Europe 14 Eurasia 18 Central Europe 21 Southeast Europe 25 Opinion 26 Lists

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Ukraine heads for crucial presidential election bne Ukraine goes to the polls on May 25 in a crucial presidential vote that is planned to end the political vacuum and help reduce the instability that has plagued the country since former president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in February. There is little doubt about who will be the next president in Kyiv: oligarch Petro Poroshenko holds

an enormous lead. The only unknown in terms of results is whether Poroshenko will win in the first round by taking more than 50% of the vote. Should he fail, a second round will take place on June 15. However, the real question is whether the elections will win widespread recognition. With See page 2

Russia strikes gas deal with China

Ben Aris in Moscow Russia and China closed a $400bn gas deal on May 21 that will see Gazprom supply energy to the burgeoning Chinese market for at least the next decade. The agreement represents a new and deeper strategic partnership between the two biggest BRIC countries. Together the Sino–Russian partnership has been called "the best synergy on the planet." The

trouble is they don't like each other very much. Even during the Communist era, China and Russia failed to unite against the capitalist world. Yet in the last few years the two countries have been growing together in a marriage of convenience. Chinese President Xi Jinping chose See page 4


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