If by "dynamic" you mean "place where things keep happening," like those Chinese "interesting times," then perhaps it's a curse.
If you mean "rich, independent, and industrialized," then that particular potential was realized only once in the entire history of Ukraine. It was in 1930s, under Stalin, when millions of workers (free and prisoners alike) were employed for two decades to build power stations, steel mills, and many other objects of industry. Once left alone, in 1990s, the industry started to decay, and today it is in serious danger of being lost.
The agreement with Russia is more favorable to Ukraine simply because Russia needs Ukraine's industry - it will be financed, fixed up, and used to make products for both countries and for export. EU has no use for Ukrainian industry; it would benefit from Ukraine having no industry at all. EU farmers do not want competition either. Ukraine is risking its identity, not just independence, if it gets too close to the EU.
Khrushchev was boss of Ukraine, under Stalin, and once he took over as Soviet leader, he took personal interest in the building up of Ukraine, even transferring the Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR.
>>>The agreement with Russia is more favorable to Ukraine simply because Russia needs Ukraine’s industry - it will be financed, fixed up, and used to make products for both countries and for export. EU has no use for Ukrainian industry; it would benefit from Ukraine having no industry at all. EU farmers do not want competition either. Ukraine is risking its identity, not just independence, if it gets too close to the EU.<<<
Bingo. But in my humble opinion Ukraine has to go EU if it really want it. They really deserves the consequences.
Russia has a capacity to build all the things it’s importing from Ukraine on it’s own.
“If you mean “rich, independent, and industrialized,” then that particular potential was realized only once in the entire history of Ukraine. It was in 1930s, under Stalin, when millions of workers (free and prisoners alike) were employed for two decades to build power stations, steel mills, and many other objects of industry.”
You’re not serious, are you? Ukraine was independent under Stalin? Ukrainians were so happy under Stalin? Then one must ask why they welcomed the Nazis as liberators.
Forced collectivization under Stalin hit Ukraine especially hard.
Russia doesn't spend money to modernize its own industry, WHY, in all that is holy, would they spend money on Ukraine's?