Hard Ukraine bargaining leaves sour taste for some in EU

REUTERS ^ | Nov 9, 2014 | Alastair Macdonald

[McGruff]

Seeing its gold-spangled blue flag flown on the barricades of Kiev thrilled the European Union, reviving its self-image as a beacon of democracy at a time of growing doubt and economic gloom.

But nearly a year on from the first "EuroMaidan" protests that would topple the pro-Moscow president who had spurned an EU trade deal, some in Brussels are disillusioned by the experience of helping Ukraine. EU generosity in waiving import duties and funding gas supplies from Russia may be being abused, they say.

[McGruff]

Trouble in paradise?

[McGruff]

“Maybe people fell for this ‘poor little Ukraine’ line,” one EU diplomat said. “But they’re not so naive. They’re waking up.”

[Bettyprob]

“Maybe people fell for this ‘poor little Ukraine’ line,” one EU diplomat said. “But they’re not so naive. They’re waking up.”

People here still fall for that malarkey. "Let's keep sending them money, and maybe weapons!" What a joke, Ukraine is nothing but a worthless grifter nation.

[Ciexyz]

The EU (with outside help from guess who) started the whole Ukrainian spring, in an attempt to weaken Vladimir Putin. It only made Putin explore new alliances with China and other BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and turned them further away from the meddling West. The EU started the Ukrainian coup, so they own the results.

Never was outside interference so clear and blatant. No sympathy for them from me. Think of how much the US population is being propagandized by the Hollywood movie industry to restart the Cold War - the message of Hate Russia and Hate Putin in films such as The Equalizer where Denzel Washington assassinates a Vladimir Putin-type villain.

[Reaganez]

I guess the Kremlin has not ceased its paid online propagandist program.

[wetphoenix]

I would have quoted Vic. Nuland here on this but let’s have some class here.

[KOZ.]

“What a joke, Ukraine is nothing but a worthless grifter nation.”

Russians always have been and always will be maniacal scumbags.

I guess the Russians on here have long since changed your tune from the ‘Ukrainians are our Slavic brothers’, lol

[Agog]

When Putin and his ilk refer to “Slavic brothers” they really mean “brother slaves”. Ukraine is paying the price for seeking to free themselves of the Russian imperial shackles. Meanwhile, many posting here believe there is nothing better than having a boot pressed on one’s face. Free Republic indeed.

[GeronL]

Still waiting for the west to start helping to arm Ukraine against further Russian encroachment

[hubel458]

'''Ukraine is paying the price for seeking to free themselves of the Russian imperial shackles.'' AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE EU'S FIGHTING AND DIEING.... Because if Ukraine don't stop russia the EU is next.... And for being EU's bloodied front line , the EU could spend a fraction of what they waste on greenie crap, just give it with no strings, and................................. save their EU bacon... in the long run.................... And this is what Ukraine has to put up with also.......... 80% of OSCE mission staff, who work in the area of Mariupol, Donetsk region, are citizens of Russia, Vasyl Budyk, Advisor to the Minister of Defense citing officer told on the air of TV channel ‘112 Ukraine’ citing of the OSCE mission officer in the area of ATO................... OSCE mission officer also told Vasyl Budyk that Russian OSCE mission officers working in Mariupol are current or ex FSB and GRU officers. "They have extremely aggressive attitude towards Ukrainian military. Moreover, they convey information about the location of Ukrainian troops, literally hunt for the Ukrainian artillery battalions," - said the adviser. This is results of listening to russian tv/trolls/putler/etc

[Jacob Kell]

Not necessarily ordinary rank and file Russians. They probably support that a-hole Putin because he treated them like mushrooms-kept them in the dark and fed them crap.