"Crimea was always ours."
It was not until 1953 that Nikita Khrushchev gifted Crimea to Ukraine. Had he known that the Soviet Union would dissolve one day, he would not have done it. Sevastopol looms large in Russian history. Any Russian leader who surrenders Crimea will be perceived as weak. Putin does not wish to be seen as that kind of leader.
The narrator did not mention that parts of western Ukraine until the Ribbentrop/Molotov Pact of 1939 belonged to Poland. Galicia used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of WWI. Galicians fought on the side of Nazi-Germany against the Soviets during WWII. Hence, western Ukraine may show greater affinity to the West than the eastern parts where Russian culture dominates.
Ukraine is the second-largest country of Europe. Even if Ukraine split, there would be enough left to align with the West. Any EU membership - which would take at least seven years to negotiate - would be contingent on a peace accord with the Russians. I am not sure that US military aid will take Ukraine closer to such accord.
PS: It is misleading to equate Ukraine with former Czechoslovakia the historic relationship of which with Russia is quite different.
2
What is the song at 22:09?
Once the Quds Force general Qasem Soleimani said to his Iraqi counterparts in a meeting:
"The Americans will leave you one day. We will always remain your neighbor."
I can imagine a Russian general reminding his Ukrainian counterparts of that little, but important fact. Despite US ambitions in the region the Russian Federation has reasserted its domination in just about every former Soviet republic on her borders, except perhaps the Baltic republics.
1
I would love to know what that lovely song at the end of the main story (22:02) is. After such hard-hitting news it's always nice to have a nice tune to ease into. Thanks!
"And this is what a lot of people in Ukraine and in Kiev felt about this decision.... thousands and thousands of people on the square,..."
Just read that instead of listening, and look up the population of Ukraine: 42Million. Say there were 10,000 people on the square. 10,000/42,000,000 = 0.024% Less that 3/100 of a percent.
How can any reasonable person view 0.024% as evidence that "a lot of people in Ukraine and in Kiev felt the decision to enter a trade pack with Russia instead of the EU was wrong? This is not even a poll, let alone a scientific poll, for it is clearly flawed by sample bias having only sampled people who protested!
Andrew Kramer makes the same false assumption and romantic wishful thinking many people made about the Arab Spring. The Arab Spring never had much support other than among the small group of intellectual elites (show me the polls that say otherwise). When Egypt finally got free and fair elections, the Muslim Brotherhood won - not the drivers of the Arab Spring! (Elections are the gold standard of polling!)
In fact, logically, it made the most sense for Ukraine to enter into an economic block with Russia because they shared much in common: language, infrastructure, existing business relationships, not to mention culture, and history!
2
@Henry ,
I agree. The Ukrainian/Russian armed confrontation may have begun with the re-annexation of Crimea, but the conflict already began years earlier with Ukraine not paying their gas bill.
2
I really enjoy the topics that are brought up on The Daily and very knowledgeable contributors like Andrew Kramer who witnessed events in the Ukraine in person. I usually listen to the Daily on my local NPR station. What is jarring for me and detracts from the broadcast is the frequent interjection of Michael Barbaro with his reflections on what Andrew Kramer is saying and then trying to tell more of the story or just exclaiming "Wow" like they are friends as if it somehow helps to hear his less knowledgeable reaction or reexplanation of what Andrew Kramer is saying or Andrew needs leading to tell the proper story--none of which is needed and really distracts the listener from hearing very interesting topics from very informed people. I suspect this a stylistic choice by the producers which is their right, but as a listener I find it off putting.
Thanks for the back story on military support for Ukraine.
I enjoyed the music playing towards the end of the report. I could not find credit for the artist. Could you please post that info.
Would have been nice to hear this when the Obama Administration was debating whether to do anything about Ukraine....