Not surprisingly, this country is now
in two pieces, divided along traditional lines
- the East. Richer, industrial, Russian-speaking, and pro-Putin
- the West. Poorer, agricultural, Ukrainian-speaking, and EU-ish
Kiev, the capital,
is in the west and under control of the west. The parliament has
passed laws, including one that bans the Russian language.
Governments in the east will have nothing to do with what is
happening the west.
The Big Question
The US, EU, and
Russia have to decide how to respond to this dangerous situation.
Leaving things alone and waiting for events to congeal might be the
best course. But will Putin accept half a loaf? By that I mean, what
if east and west declare independence from each other? Will he take
eastern Ukraine in orbit around Russia, leaving the west to the EU?
Or will he bloodily force the 2 halves to stay stitched together like
Frankenstein's monster?
What About the Money?
Ukraine is out of
money, and they need hard currency. This was the original catalyst for the current problems. Who will give it to them, and
what price will the giver exact?
Stay tuned, this
is going to be a very long spring.
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