Comments on: Russian Pressure is Growing in Ukraine http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:29:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Bohdan, NYC http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-94321 Bohdan, NYC Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:13:35 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-94321 For those who have studied the relationship between Muskovy (aka: Russia) and the rest of the Slavic world, it is not surprising that current politics and policies continue to be expansionist, colonialist, and chauvinist. Historically, any attempt at freedom from Moscow's control has been branded as an attack against our "brothers" from "Mother Russia." True brotherhood means respect of sovereignty and political and economic freedom. Ukrainians have tolerated banning/negation of their language and culture, forced migrations (my father, originally from the Don Basin region, was forced to move to Siberia), attempts at genocide, etc., etc... How much longer will this continue? Why can't Ukraine take its rightful place among the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe? Why should we think that Moscow intends to change its ways after hundreds of years of the same types of policies? We in the west should support Ukraine in its search for and defense of freedom. For those who have studied the relationship between Muskovy (aka: Russia) and the rest of the Slavic world, it is not surprising that current politics and policies continue to be expansionist, colonialist, and chauvinist. Historically, any attempt at freedom from Moscow's control has been branded as an attack against our "brothers" from "Mother Russia." True brotherhood means respect of sovereignty and political and economic freedom. Ukrainians have tolerated banning/negation of their language and culture, forced migrations (my father, originally from the Don Basin region, was forced to move to Siberia), attempts at genocide, etc., etc… How much longer will this continue? Why can't Ukraine take its rightful place among the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe? Why should we think that Moscow intends to change its ways after hundreds of years of the same types of policies? We in the west should support Ukraine in its search for and defense of freedom.

]]> By: Pipeline Threats to Europe? | Conservative Principles Now http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-61440 Pipeline Threats to Europe? | Conservative Principles Now Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:09:08 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-61440 [...] given that Ukraine is set for presidential elections in January — and Russia has been slowly stepping up the pressure. Eastern and Central Europe has a lot of reasons to [...] [...] given that Ukraine is set for presidential elections in January — and Russia has been slowly stepping up the pressure. Eastern and Central Europe has a lot of reasons to [...]

]]> By: Lidia, Yaremche, Ukr http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-57307 Lidia, Yaremche, Ukr Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:51:47 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-57307 Rachel, Michael clearly stated that Russia did not give away its "Russian lands." You yourself point out that Crimea was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries and as a matter of fact, the peninsula has no contiguous territory to any part of Russia. It's like saying Gibraltar is "English land." Crimea was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1783 and annexed to Ukraine in 1954, making it part of the Russian Empire for a total of only 171 years. Crimea has already been part of Ukraine (with which it is contiguous and whose indigenous people, the Tatars, it has encouraged to return from exile) for nearly a third of that time already (55 years). The Russian-speaking factor in Crimea is strongly influenced by the presence of the Russian fleet in Sevastopol, one of only two major cities on the peninsula. In fact, when I went there to visit an orphanage three years ago, the lady who served me in the local store was Ukrainian from Kalush, the man who rented me my apartment was of Kuban Kozak origins and his grandfather taught him Ukrainian, and the people with whom I visited the orphanage had a classic Kozak family name. I was stunned myself at how non-Russian Sevastopol was in its roots--and by the fact that Moscow has built huge residential projects outside the fleet's base territory, intended for Russian citizens. With 70 years of soviet rule and endless aggression on Ukrainian language and culture, it's hardly surprising that so many Ukrainians have caved in and speak Russian when spoken to. Rachel, Michael clearly stated that Russia did not give away its "Russian lands." You yourself point out that Crimea was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries and as a matter of fact, the peninsula has no contiguous territory to any part of Russia. It's like saying Gibraltar is "English land." Crimea was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1783 and annexed to Ukraine in 1954, making it part of the Russian Empire for a total of only 171 years. Crimea has already been part of Ukraine (with which it is contiguous and whose indigenous people, the Tatars, it has encouraged to return from exile) for nearly a third of that time already (55 years). The Russian-speaking factor in Crimea is strongly influenced by the presence of the Russian fleet in Sevastopol, one of only two major cities on the peninsula. In fact, when I went there to visit an orphanage three years ago, the lady who served me in the local store was Ukrainian from Kalush, the man who rented me my apartment was of Kuban Kozak origins and his grandfather taught him Ukrainian, and the people with whom I visited the orphanage had a classic Kozak family name. I was stunned myself at how non-Russian Sevastopol was in its roots–and by the fact that Moscow has built huge residential projects outside the fleet's base territory, intended for Russian citizens.

With 70 years of soviet rule and endless aggression on Ukrainian language and culture, it's hardly surprising that so many Ukrainians have caved in and speak Russian when spoken to.

]]> By: Rachel, Seattle http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-56370 Rachel, Seattle Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:51:21 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-56370 Michael, you wrote: "your knowledge of geography seems to be somewhat foggy. Russia did not help Ukraine regain some of its land and did not give Ukraine any of its Russian lands." Incorrect. From the 18th century until 1954, the Crimean peninsula was part of Russia. Khrushchev (a Ukrainian) transferred that territory from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. Previously, Crimea had never been part of Ukraine; before it was part of the Russian empire, it was part of the Ottoman empire. Michael, you wrote: "your knowledge of geography seems to be somewhat foggy. Russia did not help Ukraine regain some of its land and did not give Ukraine any of its Russian lands."

Incorrect. From the 18th century until 1954, the Crimean peninsula was part of Russia. Khrushchev (a Ukrainian) transferred that territory from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. Previously, Crimea had never been part of Ukraine; before it was part of the Russian empire, it was part of the Ottoman empire.

]]> By: Michael, Boston http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55927 Michael, Boston Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:34:08 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55927 Paul, I hope you can get a refund from your studies. Ukraine has attempted - in a fair & balanced way - to redress a decade of oppression and terror under the Soviets. It was a genocide; both of humanity & culture. From the Holodomor to KGB murders as recently as the 80's. I suggest you continue your studies. If Ukraine has offended the tender sensibilities of scum/thugs like Putin & Medvedev, it should earn the support of those in the West, not condemnation. Ukraine & Russia certainly have cultural ties. Ukraine has made every attempt to assimilate their ethnic minorities in a humane & civil manner. Russia, on the other hand, has used violence & war to impose their social (and imperialistic) order. Lastly; you are dead wrong when you say an overwhelming majority support closer ties to Russia. You may be confusing a poll where Ukrainians clearly did not support NATO membership. Please get your facts straight. Paul, I hope you can get a refund from your studies. Ukraine has attempted – in a fair & balanced way – to redress a decade of oppression and terror under the Soviets. It was a genocide; both of humanity & culture. From the Holodomor to KGB murders as recently as the 80's. I suggest you continue your studies. If Ukraine has offended the tender sensibilities of scum/thugs like Putin & Medvedev, it should earn the support of those in the West, not condemnation. Ukraine & Russia certainly have cultural ties. Ukraine has made every attempt to assimilate their ethnic minorities in a humane & civil manner. Russia, on the other hand, has used violence & war to impose their social (and imperialistic) order. Lastly; you are dead wrong when you say an overwhelming majority support closer ties to Russia. You may be confusing a poll where Ukrainians clearly did not support NATO membership. Please get your facts straight.

]]> By: Alex, Columbus, OH http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55879 Alex, Columbus, OH Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:36:58 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55879 Paul tries to impress us by his 30-years study:Who tought him, what materials he used, is all his knowledge so twisted? Paul tries to impress us by his 30-years study:Who tought him, what materials he used, is all his knowledge so twisted?

]]> By: Peter Borisow, New Y http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55874 Peter Borisow, New Y Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:12:08 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55874 The struggle to subdue Ukraine goes back to the days of Peter I, who hijacked Ukraine's land, church and history to create the fiction of a "Russian" empire. Even the name "Russia" -- "Rossiya" in Russian -- is an historical slight of hand, deriving not from the Rus of Kievan Rus, but rather from the Ukrainian word "rossiyane", meaning the scattered ones, as Ukrainians described the hunter-gatherers living to their north. Without Ukraine, Russia is mostly Asian tundra with little manufacturing and an economy based on selling natural resources, something like a frozen emirate with nukes. Of course, Russia will do everything in its power to reconquer Ukraine. If it succeeds, it will again challenge the U.S. world leadership. If it fails, it will fade into the garbage heap of history's failed empires, there to rot in its Stalinistic legacy of genocide, slaughter and state terrorism. The struggle to subdue Ukraine goes back to the days of Peter I, who hijacked Ukraine's land, church and history to create the fiction of a "Russian" empire. Even the name "Russia" — "Rossiya" in Russian — is an historical slight of hand, deriving not from the Rus of Kievan Rus, but rather from the Ukrainian word "rossiyane", meaning the scattered ones, as Ukrainians described the hunter-gatherers living to their north. Without Ukraine, Russia is mostly Asian tundra with little manufacturing and an economy based on selling natural resources, something like a frozen emirate with nukes. Of course, Russia will do everything in its power to reconquer Ukraine. If it succeeds, it will again challenge the U.S. world leadership. If it fails, it will fade into the garbage heap of history's failed empires, there to rot in its Stalinistic legacy of genocide, slaughter and state terrorism.

]]> By: Ray, Utica http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55867 Ray, Utica Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:04:54 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55867 Part of the difficulty people have in European history is the tendency to overlook the fact tha borders have shifted multiple times and population (especially peasants) have been left behind. Look at the map of Greater Lithuania in the 15th century. Ukraine was in it. The Crimean Khanate was not. <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Lithuanian_state_in_13-15th_centuries.png" rel="nofollow">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7...</a> Part of the difficulty people have in European history is

the tendency to overlook the fact tha borders have shifted

multiple times and population (especially peasants) have been

left behind. Look at the map of Greater Lithuania in the 15th

century. Ukraine was in it. The Crimean Khanate was not.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7…

]]> By: G-Man, Chesapeake, V http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55859 G-Man, Chesapeake, V Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:28:45 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55859 ...i'm not done opining! This is another reason for America to go after it's own oil resources! If we flood the oil market with American crude we can cause oil prices to go down, thereby limiting the amount of money the Russkies make on oil, which they are using to rebuild their war machine! Drill here, drill now has economic as well as strategic implications. Who knows, maybe we would help relieve pressure on Ukraine! G-Man …i'm not done opining! This is another reason for America to go after it's own oil resources! If we flood the oil market with American crude we can cause oil prices to go down, thereby limiting the amount of money the Russkies make on oil, which they are using to rebuild their war machine! Drill here, drill now has economic as well as strategic implications. Who knows, maybe we would help relieve pressure on Ukraine!

G-Man

]]> By: G-Man, Chesapeake, V http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/15/russian-pressure-is-growing-in-ukraine/#comment-55858 G-Man, Chesapeake, V Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:15:00 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=14816#comment-55858 Isn't it likely that the guy shaking President Yushchenko's hand in the photo is the one who had him poisoned during the last election?! I hope he remembers to wash his hand after "glad handing" with Vladimir! G-Man Isn't it likely that the guy shaking President Yushchenko's hand in the photo is the one who had him poisoned during the last election?! I hope he remembers to wash his hand after "glad handing" with Vladimir!

G-Man

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