Well dear readers, yesterday I finally managed to get some extremely serious people from Russia and Ukraine around the table at the same time, in the same place on the same agenda. This, in itself, for something organised by a foreign “nobody” is…….well…….similar to feat described in a book about a well known figure in folk lore feeding 5000 people with a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread!!
2 hours of discussions were had……..until the meeting had to be suspended.
Why?……..Because both people……1 Russian and 1 Ukrainian…….had to go to Donetsk to attend Viktor Yanukovych’s birthday bash today.
………..If you are a first time reader of my blog…….tut-tut…….and don’t know who Viktor Yanulovych is……..he is the leader of Ukraine’s biggest political party…….and at present, likely to be the next Ukrainian President in January going by the opinion polls.
……..So, the meeting was suspended whilst they make their way to Yanukovych’s mansion in Donetsk and party hard together with the rest of the Ukrainian and some of the Russian elite. Today isn’t even his birthday……it’s tomorrow…….but I guess if you’re rich and powerful, you can have a 48 hour birthday!!
I was asked if I wanted to tag along and hang out…….but……..and I know many of you would say “go, go go – he’s a rich and powerful man…….what harm can it do?”……….well the harm is to my bank balance. Seemingly birthday presents ranging from $30,000 and dramatically upwards, are the order of the day……..and at no notice, what would you buy for someone in the top 10 elite figures of Ukraine that is easily obtainable within 24 hours inside Ukraine?
I can’t just magic up a Ming dynasty vase…….and he may already have a few for all I know. Most of Damian Hurst’s work in Ukraine is owned by Mr Pinchuk…….whatever I bought would look stupid in comparison to anything given by Mr Akhmetov (Ukraine’s richest man)……….and I am fairly sure buying a watch would be out……..as I am sure he has more exclusive designer watches than the country of Switzerland!!
There is also the fact that he didn’t invite me personally and I would have been going on the invitation of 2 of those he did invite personally……..and well…….that just doesn’t seem right now does it.
I have not even taken into account the fact that despite having more clothes than every shop on Kreshatic (Kyiv’s main street)…….my wife would say she had nothing to wear!!!
So the meeting has been adjurned until Friday…….when both these men will have clear heads…….and Vitok will be another year older.
Eh?……Oh no, I am not the only person to suffer in business over the next 48 hours……..Mr Yanukovych will no doubt be nowhere near the RADA Government building for the next 2 days because it’s his birthday……..so his party minions……those not powerful enough to get an invite to his birthday bash……will be blocking the Speaker’s Chair…….so nothing can be done in Ukrainian politics whilst he is absent with senior colleagues eating slices of cake and sipping on champagne no doubt.
So, Vitok…….(it is the familiar for someone you know well call Viktor dear readers…..it is not a typo)…….happy birthday for tomorrow……..once again Ukraine……and I…… are in limbo due to you.
If my second meeting with these men proves successful Vitok, feel free to drop me an invite to next years party……I will happily spent the $30,000+ on a present for you……..but only if you will allow me to get anything done!!!
