The political peace deal struck in Ukraine in last-minute talks between Viktor Yushchenko, the president, and his bitter rival Viktor Yanukovich, the prime minister, comes as a welcome relief. Their long-running conflict last week reached the point of violence, with officials loyal to Mr Yushchenko occupying the public prosecutor’s office and Mr Yanukovich’s men breaking windows and doors to retake the building. It seemed only a matter of time before somebody was killed.

However, the agreement to settle the dispute by holding parliamentary elections in late September will not, on its own, resolve Ukraine’s deep-rooted divisions. The country is doomed to further instability, unless its leaders work much harder at developing a genuine national consensus.