Russian offer of aid sharpens international power struggle over Ukraine - World Socialist Web Site
▻http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/12/18/ukra-d18.html
Amid ongoing pro-European Union (EU) protests in Kiev and a mounting international power struggle for influence in cash-strapped Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a large financial package to the regime of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich on Tuesday. Receiving Yanukovich in Moscow, he announced that Russia would provide $15 billion in loans and a deep cut in gas prices to neighboring Ukraine.
“With the goal of supporting the budget of Ukraine, the government of the Russian Federation made the decision to issue in bonds from the Ukrainian government part of its own reserves from the National Welfare fund in the amount of $15 billion,” Putin declared.