From what little I know of Russian history, the country we now call Russia, get started in Ukraine way back in the middle ages. Kiev (surprise new fangled spelling Kiyv) started as a Viking (Rus) trading post way back when and the Viking culture spread to the rest of what is now a days Russia. Took a while and the Russians look on Ukraine as the place their nation got started. Ukraine was a sizable part of the old Soviet Union. A lot of the Ukrainian populations were Russians, speaking Russian. I have heard that the Ukrainian language is pretty close to Russian; close enough that Russians and Ukrainians can speak to each other without using translators. I have not traveled to Ukraine to check that out myself, but I have read it.
Today, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wants something from the Ukraine. Satellite photos show a huge Russian army, (100,000 men?) build up on the Russia-Ukraine border. I’m thinking a Russian army that big can invade and conquer all of Ukraine. And surely Putin, as a good Russian, would like to incorporate all of Ukraine into Russia. So far Putin has asked for beyond the pale political concessions from NATO and the US. Like promising to never offer NATO membership to Ukraine. And probably some other stuff that I missed on the TV. So far we (NATO and the US) have promised economic sanctions against the Russians if (when?) they invade Ukraine. I have not heard what those sanctions might be. Nor have I heard how much they would really hurt the Russians. The Russian economy is mostly about selling crude oil. That can be sold for cash; no bank need meddle with the deal.
Good Luck. Lets Go Brandon.
No comments:
Post a Comment