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Was Ukraine's domestic politics under strain in December 2023?
Summary
A look back at reports from 2–4 December 2023 on a travel block, a mayor's warning and a Bulgarian veto.
Was Ukraine's political scene showing strain as of 6 December 2023? Reports from the preceding days pointed to friction at home and hesitation among some partners abroad.
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, 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.
A veto in Sofia
Abroad, on 4 December 2023, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev vetoed a proposed agreement to provide Ukraine with armored vehicles. The veto returned the agreement to parliament.
Taken together, these reports from 2–4 December 2023 show domestic disputes over travel and power, alongside a setback for one proposed package of military support, in the days leading up to 6 December.
