Opinions on Ukraine

[abaris]

I wonder if a solution to the crisis is just to accept two Ukraines, one in the west where the people want independence and a western part that is either annexed by Russia or a pro-Russian Ukraine, as seems to be popular sentiment there.

This would be a peace proposal that would not play well in the American media, especially if a Democrat is the one to propose it, but it does seem to be the most fair solution based on the limited information I have.

Please note my heavy disclaimer that I'm hardly an expert on that part of the world and would welcome correction if I'm wrong on anything I just wrote.

Well, from where I live, it's not very far to the borders of Ukraine. And like so many nationalist conflicts, it's roots are deeply imbedded in history.

You see, Ukraine is pretty similar to Poland. It was divided between the Austro Hungarian empire in the west and Russia in the East up until the end of WWI. And it's situation is being unstable ever since - to the point where the Ukranians actually supported the German invasion of 1941 until they saw the Germans hadn't come to liberate them from the Soviets but to keep them as slaves.

The original demand of todays separatists was a federal state solution, which the Kiew government denied them. That's the point where Russia actually saw an opening to intervene on the seperatists behalf.