Ukraine 2010

[Hamburglar]

Full Article: New York Times (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

Mr. Medvedev’s remarks seemed to indicate that the Kremlin would no longer be willing to work with Mr. Yushchenko, who is seeking re-election in a presidential vote in January. “Russia hopes that a new political leadership in Ukraine will be prepared to establish relations between our countries that in practice will address the real aspirations of our people and the interests of strengthening European security,” Mr. Medvedev said.

In Ukraine’s last presidential elections, which touched off the Orange Revolution, Moscow was criticized for its open support of Mr. Yushchenko’s main challenger, Viktor F. Yanukovich.

At that time, Mr. Yushchenko was a political hero in Ukraine, his face scarred by an unsolved poisoning attempt, for which he blamed Russia. Now his ratings are in the single digits, and Mr. Yanukovich is favored to win the election.

In a statement posted on his party’s Web site on Tuesday, Mr. Yanukovich said normal relations between the current administration in Ukraine and Russia were impossible. “The first thing we will do upon taking power will be to revive normal, neighborly, equal and mutually beneficial relations with our strategic partner, Russia,” he said.

I'm interested if anyone has any views on the Ukraine/Russia issue:

Historical Relationship
-Former SSR of Russia
-Gas Pipeline
Upcoming election
-Candidates/Party relationships
-Movement of the Election date
-Effect of US/Russia "reset" of relations on Russia/Ukraine relations

There are obviously many more issues, and feel more than free to bring them up.

[Josephine1012]

Sometimes I think the ocean is not enough of a separation from the former USSR, but that's just me.

[RBM]

I'm interested if anyone has any views on the Ukraine/Russia issue:

I can offer sources of information. Would that be of interest ?

Read Steve LeVine, at his blog The Oil And Glory (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). This is a big-ball-of-string story, but Steve does a good job of unraveling the story.

[jesse]

Ukraine is having a number of political battle fronts internally and externally. The external conflicts revolve chiefly around Russia while the internal rattle has more to do with power and control hence the enormous amount of corruption, smear campaigns and foul play by everyone involved in politics.

I won't claim to have actively followed Ukrainian politics, yet the occasional news coming from there is suggesting many Ukrainians are fed-up and disgruntled after the Orange Revolution. Change was promised, and now Yushchenko is fighting left and right, nationally and internationally.

Russia is a big factor in the equation since it can be said they've been bullying Ukraine for a number of years now. In my opinion the only reason it is getting the time of day is because the EU is heavily dependent on gas imports through Ukraine and when Russia shuts the supply, a number of countries feel the heat from it. To some extent, Russia is trying to play ball in regaining its superpower status it had back in the USSR days.

It's surprising to hear talk about NATO and further integration toward the west rather than falling back into Russia's bag when their internal affairs need an overhaul and stabilization before taking on any further challenges. These are never easy topics because there are a great number of problems which should be dealt with first.

[angelmarauder]

I lived in Ukraine for quite awhile....ahem....<----This is an attempt to give my opinion more credibility.

(When I say Mob I mean Mafia organizations)
My general opinion and comments:
Russia is ruled by a Mob state as is Ukraine.
Both countries are being Westernized with Western Ukraine taking much larger leaps than the rest of the Soviet Union states.
Russia's political policy has ALWAYS been to bully everyone around them with their control on A. Resources B. Military might C. Mass Culture spread.
Russia has been bullying Ukraine recently with it's control on Oil (each winter doubling prices esp. 2007-2008 winter) and has threatened Ukraine continually to not gain any sort of Military presence. (I.E. the Missile Defense Sites)
Ukraine very wisely disposed of it's nuclear weapons years ago.
Ukraine has also been very wisely promoting Our Ukraine and getting people (and children) patriotic about their country


Politically in Ukraine:
they are sharply divided between proWest and proRussian parties. I like the proWest parties more because they are less socialistic and use less force to get their ways whereas the proRussian parties continually manipulate and poison and bully.....Just like the Motherland.
Hopefully
Hopefully some Timoshenko type people will get more of a foothold in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) and promote business and open relations with Europe and the Middle East
Hopefully they can get that Georgian pipeline going to lessen their reliance on Russian Oil
Hopefully they can overcome their socialist tendencies and get some stability for foreign or even domestic investments
Hopefully they can beat out the income disparities in an effort to destroy mob rule.


But I really don't know what will happen. I only got familiar with what was happening and not the Power balances of the powers at play.





angelmarauder added to this post, 5 minutes and 20 seconds later...

I have very little faith in political organizations. I have faith only in The People (who can organize and change their world) and Rich People (who have affluence and influence to sway the political / economic / social policies of their nation as well as beat back the flood of Mafia....and hopefully survive doing it)

[Son of the Sun]

There were almost civil war few years ago, goverment's police and security units versus president's soldiers and SpecForces. Yanukowych was prime minister than.

Yushczenko (president) is supporting patriot's orientation - like fascist's organization in name of Bandera. There is strong fascist's spirit in some groups at west of Ukraine. Strongly supported at west. Right.

Tymoshenko (prime minister) is more moderate, she doesn't support fascists, she was Yushczenko right hand in Orange Revolution, so she's rather pro - West than pro - Russia. Middle.

Yanukowych (previous Donyeck governor) is a leader of pro - Russian party, they're close to 2 smaller parties - socialists and communists. Agaisnt NATO, EU. Strongly supported at east. Left.

I hope there won't be any war, cause we have to make Euro 2012 !

[masterofpuppets]

I knew a teacher who lived in the Ukraine for 2 years. He said that the Mafia had special license plates which the cops could not pull over, and nearly all of the TV was controlled.

[Muadib]

I have more worries about the Ruskies going over the top than a fight between Ukraine and Russia...then again I would have to go help the Ukraine...