Ukraine?

You know, I'm not bragging, but I consider myself a fairly worldly guy. I've traveled and worked around the world for the past 25 years, been in countless countries and I try to keep up with what's going on politically both inside and outside the USA. For the past six months we've all been subjected to ad nauseum political back and forth about Ukraine, the politicians there and all manner of goings on there. Of all the countries I've traveled to, Ukraine is not among them. No reason really, just the need never arose.

My sister has her PhD in Russo-Turkish History and of course Ukraine plays prominently in her area of study. So, I am certainly aware of Ukraine, but Ukraine has never been a daily discussion topic. Sure, Ukraine has popped up on the radar several times in recent history. Ukraine made the news in 1990 when they declared independence, again in 2004 during the Orange Revolution and again in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea, but from my perspective Ukraine was still just this distant European / Eastern European country.

Perhaps I've been living under a rock all these years, but for my part I had absolutely no idea the United States had such a big stake in Ukraine. I had no idea Ukraine was such a vital location. Had no idea we would use Ukraine to house servers to store vital US documentation, no idea our politicians regularly traveled there for high level meetings on a regular basis. I had no idea Biden, and Obama, Pelosi, Trump, Gore and so many others in our government had their fingers in so many areas of Ukraine. Just had no idea.

For the past six months it seems like all we've heard about is Ukraine. This little country of 42m people is now a household name in virtually every American household. I'd be willing to bet six months ago 85% of Americans couldn't even find Ukraine on a map (without using the internet) if someone paid them.

Doesn't this seem odd to you?

It makes me wonder what other countries there are with such importance and we don't know about it.

I am no expert, but maybe the interest is simply political? Maybe the government of Ukraine has simply begun playing in the big game, and that brings sudden attention?

Not odd to me...

Ukraine is that little next door neighbour who live next to a country that many brainwashed Americans have been taught to be scared of.

That big bad nasty bear called Russia.

The USA want their foot in that doorstep sadly 😉😞😞


Regards

Lags

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

a reply to: Lagomorphe

Hey, I didn't know you were still around! So good to see you mate.

Well, as a Canadian I neither like the current US administration nor the current Russian administration.

a reply to: Lagomorphe

Yeah, I've always understood the communist vs. non-communist strategic aspect of Ukraine, but again I didn't realize how actively involved certain elements were in actually being there. I have to say, I was shocked to learn that vital US government documents are being stored there (i.e. Hillary's emails, etc.).

As for the brainwashed part, I'm not sure I agree with you there. Do you mean the Russians really didn't have a whole S#-ton of nuclear warheads aimed directly at the US for the better part of 30 years? That 65,000 US troops didn't die in Vietnam, and another 45,000 US troops didn't die in Korea...fighting proxy wars with Russia? I don't think that was my imagination.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I have to agree with you on this.

That stupid missile that Putin developed and aimed at the "ignorant West" and that can shoot at twenty times the speed of sound is not my imagination either.

I really just think the old system is going out of control.

a reply to: swanne

You are correct, it is out of control.

The problem is, there's really no way to "undo" it. The only thing which will undo nukes is the invention of an even more destructive weapon (and I shudder to think of what that might be, but I have an idea). Until then, someone will always have one (or a thousand).

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

There is always a way.

If you can't defeat the sword, become an unhittable target.

I went to Odessa earlier this year and found it beautiful, so clean with so many restaurants and fresh food, I enjoyed every meal I had, the place was very safe I could even walk alone after midnight and nobody would even look at me.

but one thing was somehow disappointing to me the day we were leaving the hotel to head back home the whole city was out of electricity so only those who could afford a generator could keep their shops open.

a reply to: Dr UAE

I would love to visit there. I've heard it is very beautiful and rich in culture. Just never had the opportunity.

talk of bidens crimes in ukraine go back a few years. the crimea incident was american msm lying to you. crimea voted to revert to russia and won. ukraine tried to stop them by force

Just got back from Lviv...lovely place and you be hard pressed to pay more than 2 bucks for a brew.

You Kraine...I Kraine...
We all Kraine for ice-Kraine.

Is it really any surprise they're a major player? Even if we disregard modern politics their position on the Black Sea has always made them one of the most strategically important countries in Europe.

During the Soviet era they were key developers in some of the USSR's most impressive tech.

When they declared independence from Russia in the early 90s, they were left with one of the largest nuclear stockpiles in the world. While this was eventually disposed of, it led to Ukraine having ties with the most powerful players in the world.

Prior to 2014, Ukraine was considered one of the tech capitals of the world thanks to Crimea.

And even now there's still the all important issue of oil. Be it their claims in the Black Sea or the fact that they are strategically placed to act as a gatekeeper for anyone that tries to provide oil to Western Europe.

They may not be the most important country in history, but there's a reason they have long been fought over.

a reply to: fightzone58

100% correct, After the U.S helped overthrow the government in 2014 the puppet installed threatend the Crimean's who are mostly ethnic Russian's from the time Russia handed over Crimea to the Ukraine. So the Crimean people asked to be part of Russia again for safety. They held a refarendum and chose to return to Russia.
Also part of the deal Ukraine agreed to when they were given Crimea was that Russia was to keep their Navel base and with thousands of Russian troops stationed in Crimea. So the Russian's did not invade.

a reply to: 11SK1180

Except that it's not true. Putin has yet to provide any proof that the ethnic Russians in Crimea are at any risk despite making the claim numerous times. He has however admitted that the Little Green Men patrolling the streets were Russian soldiers. This action violated not only Russia's treaty with Ukraine, but also international law.

Then of course there's the referendum. The official story from the Kremlin is that something like 90% of the population turned out to vote and 80% of them voted in favor of separating from Ukraine. However, Russia's own Human Rights Council tells a different story. They report only a 30% turnout with less than 50% of those voting in favor.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Check out this French Documentary on the Maidan revolution. it implicates some familiar faces: John McCain and Victoria Nueland.