Lawmakers in Ukraine are having a hard time reaching a deal to form a new government in the wake of the change in power in Kiev.  They’re delaying until Thursday the naming of an acting prime minister and a provisional government to fill the power vacuum left when President Viktor Yanukovich abandoned the capital.

The three main opposition parties are finding that beyond getting rid of Yanukovich, they have little in common politically.  And it’s not just the parties; there are numerous civic and activist groups that want their voices heard.

But time is of the essence.  Fatherland Party (not as scary as it sounds) leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk pleaded with negotiators to swiftly reach an agreement, something that must be accomplished before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will act on emergency economic assistance.  Any money coming from the Europe the Maidan protesters wanted to join is going to come with some strings attached (just ask Spain and Greece).

In the longer run, Ukraine's new leaders say the country needs a stunning US$35 billion in emergency aid to keep functioning.  That’s assuming Moscow pulls out of the $15 Billion deal it gave to Yanukovich - $5 Billion already given to Kiev.  At some point, Moscow is going to want something out that investment.  By the way, the aid that the EU offered to Ukraine last year?  That deal Yanukovich skipped?  Much less than what Kiev’s new keyholders are asking for, and much less than what Moscow came up with.

As for Yanukovich – still AWOL, believed to be hiding out somewhere in Crimea.  He faces indictment on charges of mass murder.