Citizen of the world

I haven't written in a long time. I continue to follow the stories and support the Ukrainian people in any way I can. But I got too frustrated. Frustrated with the world for doing so little. Frustrated with Russia for its bullying ways and the Russian people for believing the ultimate balderdash. How could they be so gullible? Yet, there are many bigger things than that underway. War is the word.

A Canadian expose on Putin

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Kids/Parents/ID/2646889875/

A 45 minute program on Putin.



THE FIFTH ESTATE | Season 40, Episode 08 | Jan 9, 2015 | 45:11

Putin's Long Shadow

A joint investigation by the fifth estate and PBS Frontline probes Russian leader Vladimir Putin: allegations of criminal activity and corruption, with a secret personal fortune said to be in the billions. Gillian Findlay reports on the dark side of one of the most powerful men in the world.

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.