AP Photo

If Ukraine were to turn a corner – if an independent parliament could operate alongside the presidency, if the media and public could voice critical thinking – the country could once again become a bridge between Western Europe and Russia. But the stakes are high. If the observers give Ukraine a yellow card, Mr. Yanukovych could ignore the judgment and draw more support from both Russia (hungry for gas pipelines) and China (hungry for farmland). In the tragic sweep of Ukrainian history, another dangerous chapter has begun.