Posted on 02/20/2014 1:50:22 AM PST by Dallas59
Those on the streets say they are struggling over the future development of the country - will it be a country based on the rule of law, or Russian-style oligarchy and closed interests?
The protests broke out after President Viktor Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013 in favour of stronger ties with Russia. Thousands of people, outraged that a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe had been ditched overnight, poured into central Kiev for peaceful protests. They have occupied Independence Square, known as Maidan, ever since.
Several developments - including violent police attacks on student protesters, severe new anti-protests laws, and the abduction and beating of opposition activists - have caused the demonstrations to spread and intensify. For many people, they are now less about Europe than about getting rid of a president they believe is clinging to power and serving the interests of his own close circle and Moscow.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
THANX, Dallas59
You have to stand back and examine the economy. For roughly twenty years since the USSR dissolved....the Ukraine was mostly handcuffed to Russia for the majority of business and trade. But a funny thing happened. They started to emerge from the shadow and do business in Europe. And they got bold....and grew a secondary economy.
So, here’s the inside scoop. If you are talking barge and car manufacture abilities....the Ukraine is the place to be for the next decade, for sales inside of Europe. If you are talking aircraft or helicopters...they are amongst the nine top countries in the world.
If you were talking agricultural sales....no one in Europe can out-produce them.
If you were talking IT certified experts and huge potential growth for the next decade....after India and China...the Ukraine is next.
They had twenty-three million tourists arrive in the country in 2012...which means they are doing something right and making it a success. Hotel-wise, they might need to boost things a bit....but it works.
They have almost no oil production....but they’ve got tons of natural gas capabilities. Electricity? More than enough for more industry. Debt? A ton of debt....but mostly because of incompetent government dimwits, who work in favor of a strong Russia.
If the Ukraine were to hook up and do solid business within the EU...within a decade...they’d clear most of the debt issues and easily have one of the better success stories to talk about. But...they’d have to bump Russia out of the room, and make it on their own.
That’s the bottom line on this story.
Ping.
You are right. Ukraine has come a very long way since partition and has enormous potential. They have to move away from Russia
Who and what is their money tied to? Russia? Being tied to the Euro might not be much better, from what I’ve been reading,
I see the EU as corrupt, socialist, and atheist. IMO, the EU is on a path to chaos and self destruction.
Maybe ties with a more wholesome country would be better.
That is Free Trade Communist fantasy propoganda what you wrote
The EU will just bankrupt Ukraine...like it has done with its other members
Let Ukraine determine its own way...not Soros or EU
I tend to agree. Everything seems tainted with Marxist slant, and washington post is no exception.
Venezuelans I kow are risking their lives to fight a Marxist dictator, that the media claims was democratically elected. All fraud.
Thailand and Ukraine, I’m not sure what to think.
I meant the BBC is no exception to Marxist slant.
Seems to me that it is a choice of being drunken vodka drinkers, with mother Russia or faggotry latte drinkers like the EU.
Wholesome? If Putin hadn’t have come out against gay propaganda, how many fans would he have on Free Republic? Russia is run by the Mob, it’s the modern day politburo. Sure the EU is more socialist than the US (hint, the countries that make up the EU are more socialist than the US). Russia is a nation run by thugs, electing thugs to do their bidding.
After the USSR broke up Deutsche Bank did an analysis of all the former republics and ranked Ukraine #1 in potential. Unfortunately, since they didn’t have a REAL revolution the same corrupt a##hats remained in charge and the corruption made it impossible for any outside companies to do business in the country, so they lost 20 years.
I don’t know much about this situation so please forgive me if my question is stupid. Why does Russia not want Ukraine to have independence, if that is what they are seeking?
The recent Shale Gas discoveries give them hope to be more significant in Europe’s energy supply for the future. Which would make Russia less significant for the same.
Ukraine’s shale gas lures western companies
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/abe8802a-4d0c-11e3-9f40-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2triuSa2u
Nov 14, 2013
Ukraine signs $10 billion shale gas deal with Chevron
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/05/us-ukraine-chevron-idUSBRE9A40ML20131105
Nov 5, 2013
In other words, where does Europe end?
To put it even more crudely (and historically), where is the most stable (least bloody) location of the border between Germany and Russia?
We know it's not Stalingrad. We know it's not the Elbe.
But we don't know where it is.
Based on current events, it's East of L'viv and West of Kyev.
And who can blame them?
Cue the "the EU is worse than the USSR ever was" crowd.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.
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