What shaped Kyiv's politics by 21 March 2018?

What was the political picture in Ukraine and its neighbourhood on 21 March 2018? Several decisions taken in the preceding days set the backdrop, while a sharp exchange between Warsaw and Brussels marked the day itself.

Changes in Kyiv

On 15 March 2018, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Valeriia Hontareva as head of the National Bank of Ukraine and appointed Yakiv Smolii in her place.

The same day, President Petro Poroshenko signed amendments to the law on the social and legal protection of servicemen and their families. The changes were aimed at removing what was described as social injustice in giving military personnel the right to cash compensation for renting housing.

On 16 March 2018, Poroshenko appointed Serhii Nayev as commander of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new body was created to replace the Anti-Terrorist Operation Staff.

Sanctions on Russian nationals

Also on 15 March 2018, the Trump administration imposed financial sanctions on 19 Russian nationals under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Twelve of them were among those indicted in the Special Counsel investigation. The law had been signed by President Donald Trump on 2 August 2017, after the Senate passed it 98–2 on 27 July 2017 and the House passed it 419–3. Trump nevertheless considered the legislation seriously flawed.

Warsaw against Brussels

On 21 March 2018 itself, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz accused the European Union of double standards and of suffering from a deficit of democracy. Poland and the European Commission were at that time engaged in disputes over migrant quotas and over proposed reform of Poland's judiciary.

Taken together, the reports from these days show a Ukrainian state reshuffling its financial leadership and military command, while neighbouring and allied capitals dealt with their own tensions over sanctions and EU policy.