I start this thread not to take sides the current struggle in the Ukraine. My interest is to see if anyone here on these forums can suggest a way for the Ukraine to be a part of both 'zones of control:’ Russia, and the European Union. This is my core interest here. I have the crazy idea that we might hit upon a viable solution. Is there a way for the Ukraine to be a viable part of both the newly reviving Russian Empire, and the European Union?
Background: Russia has a long history of interest in participating in the rich cultural aspects of Western Europe. However, it also has a mistrust of Western European political interests. This mistrust has some serious validation based on a long history of military interventions. Highlights include: Napoleon, (need I say more?), USA marines in Russia during the 1914 revolution that disposed the hereditary dictatorship (Czar). The BEF (British expeditionary Force) sent to Russia (called in the West the "Crimean War"). Crimea might seem a sideshow compared to WWI, but consider that many historians suggest that Great Britain lost more soldiers in Crimea than in WWI.) The long history of conflicts is not one sided. The Russian Empire / Soviet Empire also has a history of political / military interventionism. A few highlights: Czarist Russia using Cossacks to repress revolts in satellite occupied nations (regions?), Soviet Union enforcing the starvation of millions of Ukrainian civilians to ensure compliance, soviet armored military forces crushing Warsaw pact civilian popular revolts against Soviet controlled National governments. Afghanistan. My intention is not to take sides. My intention is to highlight the long standing and very real perception by Russian leaders (Czarist, Soviet, post-communist) that Western Europe is not an ally or friend.
Many Nations in Eastern Europe were freed from outright foreign control when the Soviet Empire collapsed. Many of these former possessions of Russia / Soviet Union are now members of the European Union. Others are at various stages of joining the EU. From a Russian nationalist point of view, it looks like what France (Napoleon), and Germany (two world wars) could not achieve, is not a de facto accomplishment via the European Union (centered on the economic axis of France and Germany).
The Ukraine is caught between these two spheres of influence.
The Ukraine is a viable nation that was once a core part of the Soviet Empire (CCCP, USSR). Like many other nations recently freed from the former Soviet military alliance/union, it has a population that seeks closer ties to Western Europe. Its elected government, however, is refusing this, and actually enacting closer ties with Russia (the viable core of the former Czarist / Soviet Empire). Whatever the spin doctors (on all sides) do with current events, the truth is simple. Very large segments of the people of the Ukraine want to join the EU. The elected government has, instead, decided to enact closer ties with Russia. Result: Conflict in Ukraine.
Is there a way for the Ukraine to be a viable part of both the newly reviving Russian Empire, and the European Union?
