Who Lost Ukraine?

Weekly Standard ^ | Jan. 30, 2008 | by Reuben F. Johnson

[jdm]

~excerpt~

UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN hiding in a cave somewhere or posted to a UN humanitarian assistance project site in North Korea, you know that the latest contest in the U.S. election is over who can come up with the sexiest stimulus package for the economy. Both Obama and Clinton have put forth their own plans as part of campaign one-upmanship. Meanwhile, the Congress has proposed a bipartisan plan that would send checks to taxpayers to encourage extra spending and pump up the economy.

Increasing worries about the state of the U.S. economy dominated the sidebar conversations and media coverage of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Davos event is this odd combination of a media free-for-all that includes appearances by Hollywood luminaries and famous musicians, speeches by world leaders, and--of course--the politician-turned-movie-maker and global warming doomsayer, Al Gore.

The usual coterie of Russian oligarchs were also at Davos this year, with about 2,000 different political and business leaders taking part in this year's event. Even since Soviet times the Russian presence at Davos was for the sole purpose of proving how much that country matters to the world economic community. This year the Russian delegation's specific mission was to inundate the attendees with statistics and slick presentations demonstrating the increasing control the Kremlin has over all major business in Russia and insisting that the lack of any real free market reforms is nothing for the West to be bothered about.

If Western capitals are not bothered, one of the nations that has to worry about Russia is its neighboring former republic, Ukraine. Russia has done its best to try and keep Ukraine from spinning out of Moscow's orbit and has a long history of engaging in dirty tricks in order to make sure...

[Ivan the Terrible]

Now many Ukrainians will receive payments from the central government to supposedly recoup some of these losses, but the amounts are little more than symbolic. The maximum that Ukrainians can receive is 1000 Hyrvna (about $200), but the program will pay out $26 billion over the next several years, with $1.2 billion being distributed this year.

Only 1000 Hyrvna? What a weak excuse for an economic stimulus package.

[Gondring]

ping

[Does so]

Ukraine?

You know the rules! Pictures of the Prime Minister... please.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I think that this isRussian spin. The Russians made off with all bank account monies at the time of partition.

Yulia Timoshenko negotiated the return of funds and she is no Russophile.

1,000 Hrivna is about $200 which doesa not seem like much to us, but many Ukrainians are paid the equivalent of $80 per month and pensioners get less, so it means a lot to them.

Friends tell me that the old folks are lined up around the block to get this money as they are afraid that the Russians will not keep their promise.

[Vroomfondel]

Yulia Timoshenko negotiated the return of funds and she is no Russophile.

Hey, wait a sec! Isn't there a Yulia Timoshenko rule like the Ann Coulter one? If not, why not?

[Jimmy Valentine]

There should definitely be a Yulia Timoshenko rule. She is big time gorgeous.

Clever girl dresses and wears her hair in traditional Ukrainian style which only add to the effect.