Street protests in Ukraine threaten nation’s economy

Hidden behind the tug of war over whether Ukraine will cast its lot with Europe or Russia is the prospect of bankruptcy. Someone will need to chip in at least $10 billion in the coming months, if Ukraine wants to keep its economy afloat. With talks on resuming credit from the International Monetary Fund stalled, President Viktor Yanukovych heads to Moscow on Tuesday to see what Russia might offer in exchange for freezing a strategic trade deal with the European Union. Analysts say that if President Vladimir Putin offers anything it could be a mix of credit, investment pledges, and a discount on energy prices, particularly natural gas. But the Russian leader is unlikely to be very generous, given the crisis being endured by Yanukovych and his ruling party and the flip-flopping by Ukraine leadership about whether its allegiance lies with Moscow or Brussels.