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Was Ukraine's domestic politics under strain by 6 December 2023?
Summary
A look back at three reports from the first days of December 2023 involving Kyiv's mayor, a former president and Bulgaria's veto on armoured vehicles.
Was Ukraine's political climate tightening, and was foreign support wobbling, as of 6 December 2023? Reports from the preceding days pointed in both directions.
On 2 December 2023, Ukraine's security service stopped former president Petro Poroshenko from leaving the country. His party, European Solidarity, said he had scheduled meetings in Poland and the United States.
The next day, 3 December 2023, Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko gave an interview to Der Spiegel. He said Ukraine was heading toward authoritarianism and that the President's Office viewed mayors as an impediment to consolidating power.
Bulgaria's veto
On the foreign-support side, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev vetoed a proposed agreement on 4 December 2023 to provide Ukraine with armoured vehicles. The veto returned the agreement to parliament.
Taken together, these reports from 2 to 4 December 2023 showed a Kyiv facing public criticism over how power was exercised at home, and a partner country where a presidential veto sent a military aid proposal back to the legislature.
