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| Courtesy of Sen. John McCain |
Thousands protested against the government in Ukraine that refused to sign the pact with the EU. The protesters built barricades and sang songs of freedom. They demanded the Yanukovych government to take closer stand with the EU. The protests poured water on riot police in the sub-zero freezing weather.
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| The pianist defiantly plays Chopin in front of the riot police |
The nation is divided as the Russian speaking Eastern region tends to side with Russia where Ukrainian speaking Western region, which also is more open to traveling and opening the market. Ukraine locates so close to Russia. The largest dam in Europe was built in Ukraine and then destroyed under Stalin's rule. The Nazi occupied the area and exposed numbers of Ukrainians purged under the Stalin's rule before many suffered under its rule.
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| Ukraine is divided |
In between the ones of the most cruel regimes in the world, Ukraine has suffered from poverty. Many fled the nation to Canada, the US, and elsewhere. There have been a lot of support of the protests against the pro-Russian Yanukovych's government. The EU and the US accused of how the Yanukovych government treated the peaceful protesters. Will Ukraine become another Yugoslavia? Why is Russia moving its missiles to its Western front? The protesters stayed in Euromaidan for weeks demanding change. Sen. McCain flew to Ukraine and told them "America is with you. I am with you."
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| Ukraine's external debt in million of dollars |
This morning, however, came a piece of news that may have thawed the stalled negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, the EU, and the US. Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych signed a deal with Russia's Vladimr Putin for $15 billion. Russia is to lend $15 billion and cut prices for natural gas.
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| The protesters toppled the statue of Lenin |
The nation is riddled of debt. Russia, with its leadership and political support if not with military guarantee, is offering the bailout money. It has asked for some $20 billion from the EU prior during this political crisis. Now it has gotten the money from Russia.
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| Ukrainian administrative divisions by monthly salary |
Let's say Ukraine has suffered long enough in between the world powers. The wars destroyed the mainly agricultural economy. The cruel former Soviet demanded to exterminate the democratic oppositions. The West had not paid much of interests nor money to the region. The EU and the US are suffering from their huge debt themselves. Now it has gotten what it deserved; a deal. And perhaps more Russian involvement in its politics that are not just by threats but from the people who shares its cultural background.