He was a big-time political operator, behind many political developments, not least Yeltsin's re-election in 1996.

Polls show the attitude of Russians toward Ukraine has deteriorated lately. So, people might easily believe that Ukrainians want to do them harm.

There is clearly a policy shift underway. We're talking about a bad trend; not just a cooling but a deterioration in relations.

(Motherland's policies) are very, very popular with the Russian people.

The goal of Kremlin strategists appears to be a weak coalition government in Ukraine that will be more vulnerable to Russian economic pressure. One twin is looking to Moscow, the other to Washington. And they can't separate.