Ukraine’s Prime Minister Quits

The pro-Western prime minister of Ukraine resigned abruptly Thursday after the country’s coalition government collapsed. Two major parties announced they were leaving parliament, which allows President Petro Poroshenko to dissolve the parliament and call for new elections this fall. The New York Times writes this may suggest optimism on the part of Poroshenko, because he feels the country will be ready for elections after crushing the rebellion in the east. Ukraine’s military “has made major advances in recent days and Poroshenko’s aides have told allies they believe the military operation can be completed within two or three weeks” if Russia doesn’t bail the rebels out. That’s a big if.