A picture is worth a thousand words, maybe a lot more...

(Reuters) - "German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that Ukraine was a "dictatorship" and likened it to Belarus, one of Europe's most isolated countries, in her sharpest comments to date against the former Soviet republic.

Merkel has been an outspoken critic of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich for his treatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. But the chancellor's comments in a speech to German lawmakers confirmed the extent to which Ukraine's image has slipped in the West over the Tymoshenko case."

Merkel's opinion is shared across Europe by other prime ministers and presidents.

Meanwhile, today, "President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych believes that the pause in relations with the European Union will do the both sides well. The head of state said this at the meeting with Moldavian President Nikolae Timofti.
Yanukovych reminded that for today Ukraine and the EU have prepared the Association agreement and free trade are agreement. "I would say the EU has offered to take a pause. As far as I understand this break will do us both well."

Yanukovych's statement were intended to pre-empt a possible decision that could be made by EU Foreign Ministers on Monday to boycott the Euro-2012 soccer competition next month.

The disturbing photographs of Tymoshenko in prison taken by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė today, will be seen all over the world - burned into the memory banks of  western politicians. It will certainly harden their view that Yanukovych is becoming another Lukashenko..It may even convince UEFA  to move the July 1st Euro 2012 final and closing ceremony from Kyiv to Warsaw..

[Remember this photo?]

p.s.Lead story in United Kingdom's biggest selling paper Friday..