The situation in the Ukraine is far more complicated than many realize.
Think Progress just published an excellent piece titled “Why Much of What You’ve Read About Ukraine isn’t Quite Right, As Explained by Ukranians.”
“Though protests had been raging in the capital city of Kyiv and cities across Ukraine since November, the eyes of the world turned sharply toward the former Soviet republic at the end of February when then-president Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia and Russian president Vladimir Putin decided to directly insert himself in his neighbor’s internal turmoil. Citing an imminent danger to Russians living in the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea, Putin sought permission from Russia’s parliament to send military forces into Ukraine. As of Monday, Ukrainian officials said 16,000 Russian troops were in Ukraine and in a Tuesday press conference from his Moscow home, Putin said they “reserve the right to use all means to protect” Russian citizens in Ukraine, but denied having sent Russian forces there.
With all of the speculation regarding Russia’s motives and endless posturing over what’s in Ukraine’s best interest, the perspectives of those that matter most, actual Ukrainians, seem to get lost along the way. “The radical voices are always the loudest,” said Olga, a native of Sevastopol, Crimea who moved to the U.S. in 2007. “I wish there were some moderate voices in between that would be heard.”
When I was at Barron’s, I wrote about Russia and went there twice. I also have a friend who recently immigrated to the U.S. from the Ukraine. What I read in this post rings true.
You will find the rest of the post here: http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/03/04/3356621/ukraine-russia-invasion/
