When, in 2004, the Orange "revolution" in Ukraine against a rigged presidential election seemed to put that country on the path to join the west, it was top news in the US media and the stuff of countless emotional commentaries. Many of them focused on the iniquity of Russia, which had backed the existing Ukrainian regime.

Since then, the events of 2004 have proved to be no revolution at all, in the sense of a fundamental change in the Ukrainian state. The Orange coalition split, economic growth declined drastically, reform stagnated and, in free and fair parliamentary elections in March this year, the pro-Russian grouping led by the ousted candidate of 2004, Viktor Yanukovych, emerged as the largest party. After months of political chaos, including hooliganism by both sides in the Ukrainian parliament, Mr Yanukovych will now probably lead a coalition government under the presidency of his rival, Viktor Yushchenko.