However BNP leader Nick Griffin described the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis as an example of "neo-con interference".

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The opposition's blockades, the pro-Moscow camp's talk of separatism and both sides' intransigence have threatened to turn Ukraine's political crisis into a financial meltdown.

ECONOMIST: Edging towards a solution | The

As the incumbent prime minister, Ms Tymoshenko's rating has also been dented by Ukraine's severe economic crisis.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine's presidential election

Raila Odinga, the firebrand opposition candidate who had been leading early results and public opinion polls, said the dispute could trigger a political crisis and compared the country to Ukraine or Ivory Coast.

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Ukraine, meanwhile, faces not only a financial crisis but also a political one exacerbated by the war in Georgia.

ECONOMIST: Russia and its neighbours

Lithuania and Poland, both NATO members, urged alliance foreign ministers to consider accelerated membership for Georgia and Ukraine at Tuesday's meeting in Brussels, saying the crisis in Georgia shows that both countries need NATO protection from Russia.

NPR: Georgia Crisis Stirs Concern In Ukraine

The main lesson from this crisis, says Gazprom, is that alternative pipelines bypassing Ukraine are needed.

ECONOMIST: Russia, Ukraine and gas

However, economic cooperation would be beneficial not only for Ukraine, but also the Eurozone, which is overwhelmed by the debt crisis and economic slowdown.

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Ukraine and Georgia have been promised membership eventually but in practical terms that would create a new crisis with Russia and the issue might be left hanging for a number of years.

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Ukraine has suffered political turmoil in recent years and has been hit particularly hard by the global economic crisis.

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