Sad But Proud History.
A Brief History Beginning with the Russian Revolution in 1917:
A chaotic period of time for Russia of course but also for the Ukraine. It too emerged from its own Civil War 1917 - 1921. In 1922 the Ukrainian Bolsheviks defeated the Ukrainian National Government and became one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union.
In 1932 and 1933, millions of people, mostly peasants, in the Ukraine starved to death in a devastating famine known as the Holodomor that totaled between 4 and 5 million. That represented some 15% of the country's population at that time and is blamed on the genocidal actions of the Soviet and its leader Joseph Stalin.
Since the early 1890's there have been 3 large waves of Ukrainian emigration to Canada - this first lasted until the start of WW 1, the second at the time of the Holodomor in the 1930s and the third and last major wave at the conclusion of World War II. There are today approximately a million and a half ethnic Ukrainians living in Canada which represents the largest number outside of the Ukraine itself and Russia.
During World War 2 the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought for independence against both Germany and the Soviet Union and in 1945 the Ukraine became one of the founding members of the United Nations even though it was still considered to be part of the Soviet Union. This ended in 1991 when along with the other Soviet Union nations it regained independence.
In recent years though, the Ukraine has been in crisis with constant internal protests between pro-European and pro Russian groups. This culminated with the invasion by Russia of its Crimea region followed by its annexation by Russia in 2014. As can be expected this unrest has negatively affected the Ukrainian economy.
As an aside, I can recall attending a 'seniors chat group of 40 or so and the topic of the day was Russia likely to invade Crimea? I was the only one in the room who said that Russia was going to do just that unless NATO put serious boots on the ground asap. The others thought I had been smoking rope. Virtually days later it was a done deal. Not one of the chatterers had the temerity to tell me that I was right after all.
But as they say that was 2014 and today is now.
Russian Troops numbering 100,000 are massed along the Ukraine border ready at a moments notice to invade this hapless country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned the West that the "nightmare scenario of military confrontation is returning to the European continent."
Not to be outdone, our own Foreign Minister... the newly installed Melanie Joly fired back...telling Russia that any form of military build-up by them was "bad". You have to agree that you cannot get much tougher than that ...even though she seems to have missed the point that the 'build-up' she seems to be concerned about has already occurred.
Her US counterpart was a bit tougher ...threatening.. get ready for this ..."sanctions". I am sure Putin is quaking in his boots.
So do I think Russia will proceed to invade the Ukraine... as I predicted for the Crimea? This time though I believe he will not ...at least for now. He is not that stupid. But he does seem to be determined to restore the olde Soviet Union of a mere 30 years or so ago.
I qualify my answer as follows: If Europe continues to dither and the United States continues to withdraw from its world police function ...the day may come when Putin thinks he can do just that...it is just not there yet. And you can add to this mix China's increasing sway throughout the world.
So what to do? ...again I urge NATO to come immediately to Ukraine's aid. And to go further, admit it to the Organization itself even though Putin will scream blue murder ..but so what.
Add to this the need for Europe to get more involved in its own defence. Recent history shows clearly that they can no longer rely upon big brother (ie the United States) to protect them.
At the same time a current NATO member - Turkey needs to be put on notice that if they do not clean up their act it will be expelled from that Union. Or even better, Suspend that country now until it can show that it deserves a full return to membership.
Do I think these initiatives will happen. Hard to say, but if they do not we in the Free World are in for more trouble and which will likely begin with another invasion of the Ukraine and of course Taiwan.
As I See It...
'K.D. Galagher'
