The Meme of “Russian Aggression”

[polly7]

16. Good point. They dodged a bullet.

Eastern Ukraine is home to much of the countries' natural wealth - major coal deposits, fertile wheat and corn land ... Crimea has the same fertile soil, as well as a thriving tourist industry and quick access to the Mediterranean, Balkans and Middle East - and, Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Both are/were crucial to Ukraine's total wealth, so it's no wonder the new 'gov't' is fighting so hard to hold onto the east ........ despite the citizens living there not wanting the promised austerity under the IMF, having made their livings from these resources all their lives. I actually wonder if Ukraine will end up being divided up ...... neither side seems willing to compromise. It's horrible watching so many die.

Then there's the shale - Ukraine has the third largest shale reserves in the world, Chevron had just signed a 50 year deal to develop Ukraine's oil and gas weeks before the Maidan demonstrations began in Kiev, and Royal Dutch Shell in the east (both already accused of major human rights violations in Nigeria.) Nuland, after getting back from handing out her cookies to the demonstrators, urged Ukraine to sign a new deal with the IMF which would “send a positive signal to private markets and would increase foreign direct investment that is so urgently needed in Ukraine.” What a coincidence. Ukraine, economically, is/was? to be patterned after Greece, of all places.

Yes, the Crimean people were smart to vote themselves out of this mess.