Yes, but the Balt countries and Poland, closest to Ukraine culturally, did very well.
Besides, in Spain and Greece they problem was domestic; EU simply did not expect that they would end up so bad off.
>>Yes, but the Balt countries and Poland, closest to Ukraine culturally, did very well.<<
In fact Poland is largely on par with Russia economically, Estonia is only a little bit better while the rest of Baltic countries are falling behind since their association to EU. A loss of Russian trade ties, EU regulations and workforce exodus to Western Europe are primary reasons.
>> Interesting here is that Germany is just assumed to have the responsibility for Central Europe. And for Greece. And for Spain...<<
Isn’t it? Both nations aren’t on par with Germany in terms of economy. In Spain they aren’t working afternoon and in Greece they don’t like to work at all. Yet, they like a German-sized wages, pensions and benefits. Entitlement is a thing they like best, considering their average attitude to work.
That is what makes these nations far from their means, they need Germany to pay a bill but there is outrage if the Germans wants any political control in return.
I can see parallels to a grown kids in their late 20s sitting in their parents’ basements, still getting lunch money from their dads but really disappointed as far as a regime upstairs want them to keep out from whores, alcohol and demands switch TV off before midnight.
It is the case for the Ukraine and the rest FSU vs Russia as well.
Independent nation-state means a solvency in the first place. It is neither German nor Russian choice if their neighbors have chosen the other way.
The pirate government in Ukraine is already selling out the country to George Soros, the IMF, and Goldman Sachs. Pretty soon they’ll flood the country with hordes of Third worlders and begin teaching five year olds the joys of homo anal sex.