[knarf]

THAT'S the kind of information, and way of deliverance, that endeared me to FreeRepublic !

THANX, Dallas59

[pepsionice]

You have to stand back and examine the economy. For roughly twenty years since the USSR dissolved....the Ukraine was mostly handcuffed to Russia for the majority of business and trade. But a funny thing happened. They started to emerge from the shadow and do business in Europe. And they got bold....and grew a secondary economy.

So, here’s the inside scoop. If you are talking barge and car manufacture abilities....the Ukraine is the place to be for the next decade, for sales inside of Europe. If you are talking aircraft or helicopters...they are amongst the nine top countries in the world.

If you were talking agricultural sales....no one in Europe can out-produce them.

If you were talking IT certified experts and huge potential growth for the next decade....after India and China...the Ukraine is next.

They had twenty-three million tourists arrive in the country in 2012...which means they are doing something right and making it a success. Hotel-wise, they might need to boost things a bit....but it works.

They have almost no oil production....but they’ve got tons of natural gas capabilities. Electricity? More than enough for more industry. Debt? A ton of debt....but mostly because of incompetent government dimwits, who work in favor of a strong Russia.

If the Ukraine were to hook up and do solid business within the EU...within a decade...they’d clear most of the debt issues and easily have one of the better success stories to talk about. But...they’d have to bump Russia out of the room, and make it on their own.

That’s the bottom line on this story.

[Carbonsteel]

Ping.

[olezip]

The protests broke out after President Viktor Yanukovych's government rejected a far-reaching accord with the European Union in November 2013 in favour of stronger ties with Russia.

I see the EU as corrupt, socialist, and atheist. IMO, the EU is on a path to chaos and self destruction.

Maybe ties with a more wholesome country would be better.

[Rodamala]

Seems to me that it is a choice of being drunken vodka drinkers, with mother Russia or faggotry latte drinkers like the EU.

[Jim Noble]

will it be a country based on the rule of law, or Russian-style oligarchy and closed interests?

In other words, where does Europe end?

To put it even more crudely (and historically), where is the most stable (least bloody) location of the border between Germany and Russia?

We know it's not Stalingrad. We know it's not the Elbe.

But we don't know where it is.

Based on current events, it's East of L'viv and West of Kyev.

[Gay State Conservative]

The simple explanation is that many,many Ukrainians would rather live under the "tyranny" of the European Union than under the tyranny of that Marxist kleptocrat,Vlad Putin.

And who can blame them?

Cue the "the EU is worse than the USSR ever was" crowd.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

Soros, the EU, and Juan McCain are aiding and driving the “protestors”. I therefore unquestioningly support the opposing side.