Ukraine in a Position to its Corrupt Elites and Russia Too. 2018 is starting to shape up like 2013. President Petro Poroshenko consolidates his power by foot dragging on reforms promised to Western donors, then by harassing opponents. Like the Yanukovych era, there is no rule of law, no parliamentary accountability, and no effective pursuit of corrupt officials or even of Yanukovych who stole billions. Conditions resemble those that led to the 2004 and 2014 "street" revolutions, a situation that officials continuously say cannot be allowed because it would lead to instability and renewed Russian aggression.