Ukraine's Elections Are Very Promising

Exit polls show a distinctly pro-EU margin

The Rada exit poll results are in, and they are vastly different from the 2012 elections, in which the old regime parties (Party of Regions, Fatherland, UDAR, the Communist Party, and Svoboda) took the lead.  For the first time since independence, there are likely to be no Communists in the parliament. President Petro Poroshenko's Bloc party (23%) and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk's People's Front party (21.3%) are way in the lead, indicating that the work they have begun is likely to continue.

In fact, pro-EU parties are dominating the results according to Reuters. This is a most hopeful sign that corruption will be fought successfully and Ukraine will move on to a new era of freedom, peace and prosperity.  It will be days before all the votes are counted, the so-called separatists are still planning to hold their own elections in November, and, of course, it remains to be seen what Putin will do, but this first step is promising.  

It will not be easy, and they have an uphill battle ahead of them, but they also have much to fight for. And that perhaps is the difference this time. If they have to fight, they have the potential to win. Let's all stand behind them and press on.  

Putin's lies and promises

Yesterday, Putin promised that the Ukrainian troops surrounded by Russian troops in Ukraine could retreat through a safe passage corridor. They were then slaughtered as they carried white flags. Putin lied.  We all know he does. That was a war crime.  Putin must be brought to justice.

Russian troops aren't lost, they are on holidays in Ukraine!

The Russian troops taken prisoner by the Ukrainian military were supposedly on maneuvers when they accidentally crossed the border into Ukraine.  Putin said it was Ukraine's fault that there was an unguarded border crossing allowing them to get lost...in rebel held territory. Today Canada tweeted a a lovely snide posting of a map to help guide the Russian troops in case they get lost, which immediately went viral.  Thanks @Canada.

Things that define Ukrainians growing up in America

While we watch and wait, I've been thinking about who I am. It's often hard to explain the things that define Ukrainian Americans, but there are at least 25 anomalous behaviours that we all had in common growing up. I can't explain some of them, I just have to tell you about them. It's what every kid raised Ukrainian around the world knows for fact.

The chess game over desperate Ukraine

EU and US imposed sanctions against Russia escalated today

This morning the EU announced tougher sanctions targeting entire industries as opposed to individuals and corporations. The document issued takes into account legal positions and best practices in sanctions administration. For some reason, the US toughened it's stance but did not go as far as Europe, whereas before it's stance was far tougher than Europe's. It reportedly omitted several banks from the its list. The banking sector takes the biggest hit and will therefore affect London significantly. 

From civil war to international conflict

July 28, 2014: Igor Strelkov, a pro-Russian rebel commander, speaks to the media in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

UN issues report on Ukraine

Below is the full text of the press release issued today by the United Nations High Commisioner for Human  Rights, Navi Pillay.  She states, “I would like to stress to all those involved in the conflict, including foreign fighters, that every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are.”

Let's call them what they are: Terrorists not pro-Russian Separatists

Today I am proud not to be Russian

Last week, someone pushed a button and annihilated 298 innocent lives, sending shockwaves around the world. Today, that someone, and we all know who, took down two Ukrainian fighter planes. We know who because he says he did it. Uh, what don't people get about that?