The challenger

摘要

The drama playing out in the streets of Ukraine in recent weeks has been gripping in its own terms.But its bigger significance for the West lies northeast of Kiev,in Russia.As the tide moves towards a presidential election victory for the opposition leader,Victor Yushchenko,on December 26th,the efforts of Russia's president, Vladimir Putin,to thwart him have looked ever more cack-handed.But they have also depressed those who still hoped that Mr Putin's Russia might move,slowly and tortuously,on to a path leading to political liberal-ism-and that he might prove an ally not a foe of the West.