1. The second largest state in Europe is in an existential crisis. A break up of the country along
political, linguistic and ethnic lines has become a frightening possibility and what it seems to be
sadly lacking is imaginative leadership. The background to the crisis can be traced back
to the three month public occupation of the Euromaidan in Kiev which gathered momentum thanks
to the then President Yanukovich's decision to postpone the signing of an Association Agreement
with the European Union.
2. Its southern province of Crimea is slowly 'hotting up' as a potentially dangerous place as the big
powers of the world want to stake their claim in the region. The fact is that the region with its
complex ethnic mix and historical past has traditionally been close to Russia. Ukraine and Russia
have a treaty, since the break up of the Soviet Union, that allows the latter to station its Black Sea
Fleet in Sevastopol.
3. The plans of the United States, the European Union and Russia to bring the country under their
'area of influence' will make matters worse. And for starters there are two activities that are slated in
the next few months which will cause great agony to the Ukrainians:-
(a) the interim government in Kiev has announced elections for a new government on 25 May,
an exercise that's being boycotted by Crimea.
(b) a referendum in Crimea on 15 Mar as to whether to stay within Ukraine or to join up with
Russia.
4. Is Ukraine going the same way as Syria? What about respecting the genuine aspirations of the people of Ukraine?
Tailpiece.
My cousin's mom was going through a bout of excruciating pain. I, as an onlooker, could just watch on helplessly.
political, linguistic and ethnic lines has become a frightening possibility and what it seems to be
sadly lacking is imaginative leadership. The background to the crisis can be traced back
to the three month public occupation of the Euromaidan in Kiev which gathered momentum thanks
to the then President Yanukovich's decision to postpone the signing of an Association Agreement
with the European Union.
2. Its southern province of Crimea is slowly 'hotting up' as a potentially dangerous place as the big
powers of the world want to stake their claim in the region. The fact is that the region with its
complex ethnic mix and historical past has traditionally been close to Russia. Ukraine and Russia
have a treaty, since the break up of the Soviet Union, that allows the latter to station its Black Sea
Fleet in Sevastopol.
3. The plans of the United States, the European Union and Russia to bring the country under their
'area of influence' will make matters worse. And for starters there are two activities that are slated in
the next few months which will cause great agony to the Ukrainians:-
(a) the interim government in Kiev has announced elections for a new government on 25 May,
an exercise that's being boycotted by Crimea.
(b) a referendum in Crimea on 15 Mar as to whether to stay within Ukraine or to join up with
Russia.
4. Is Ukraine going the same way as Syria? What about respecting the genuine aspirations of the people of Ukraine?
Tailpiece.
My cousin's mom was going through a bout of excruciating pain. I, as an onlooker, could just watch on helplessly.
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