Kuchma had originally wanted to stay out of it and watch the tigers fight from the mountain.
If Yushchenko and Yanukovych fought until both sides were battered, perhaps he might have a chance to step in and clean up the mess, maybe even secure another term...
He could never say such things openly, much less act on them openly.
His prestige at home simply was not enough to support him doing that.
So Kuchma had prepared two options from the start.
Either he retired gracefully and lived out his old age. It would be best if Yanukovych, who had a good relationship with him, took office. Even if Yushchenko was elected, it would not be too much of a problem. After all, he got along reasonably well with both of them.
Surely neither would settle old scores with him after taking office.
Or Yanukovych and Yushchenko remained deadlocked, perhaps even fought to the death, leaving neither of them able to take office.
And no one else qualified enough could be found to succeed as president.
Then he, a fairly competent and highly respected "former" president, could emerge once more and serve a "transitional" term. That was not impossible either...
That was why he had seemed somewhat strange at first, never publicly endorsing either candidate.
Unfortunately, Mikhail's trip to Kyiv changed everything...
Kuchma knew quite a bit about this rising new figure in Moscow's political world, who had shot to fame like a rocket over the past two years.
He knew even better that beyond Mikhail's visible positions as deputy speaker of the Duma, chairman of two major committees, and the largest energy oligarch, the connections behind him were even more astonishing!
The Kremlin, the Duma, the Romanov family, European royal families, Khovchenko, Abramovich...
Too many people and forces were inextricably