Both Tymoshenko and Yushchenko were recently in Brussels for the yearly summit of the European People’s Party (EPP). The EPP is a transnational political coalition comprising parties from both inside and outside the European Union.

As you likely know, the former Orange Revolution allies have now become political opponents, permanently fracturing the orange coalition. During Yushchenko and Tymoshenko’s visit to Brussels, EPP leaders worked hard to reconcile the two, putting together a meeting of president and PM during the summit. Ukrayinska Pravda compared the meeting to Reagan and Gorbachev at Reykjavik, though that seems mildly hyperbolic. Nevertheless, the peace initiative might bear fruit — Yushchenko committed to weekly meetings once they return to Kiev, and Tymoshenko has agreed. Yush also expressed support for anti-crisis measures working their way through the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.