being anti russian will do, and regardless of whether the fash embrace neo liberalism or not once Ukraine is tied into the EU and IMF it wont have a choice, neo liberalism will have embraced them .
So this is about extending the EU's sphere of influence up to Russia's border? Sounds interesting. Won't Russia send the tanks in like with Georgia?
What I don't understand is why the far right are pushing for links with the EU. Or are they being used as useful idiots?
Talks and compromise. What the fuck is going on? The protestors are building barricades out of snow.
Why the whining about the Lenin statue being knocked over? It's only natural. These people lived under the boot of Soviet Communism for about 70 years.
frogwoman said:i know some stuff about this - will reply later
Also the protests took place with a real mixture of groups
Ahh, it's to confusing, met a Russian folk singer in Estonia claiming he was the hard done one.
The many thousands cheering thought it was a big fuck you to Putin and Russian imperialism. Unfortunately, they didn't realise the statue's demolishers were right-wingers heralding a fascist coup throughout the country.
Interesting comment from my dad today about anti Euro propaganda in Ukrainian media:
No. 1 which they trot out is that joining the EU will force Ukraine to allow gay marriages and rights to sexual minorities (presumably this argument goes down big with babushki in the villages); no. 2 that prices will immediately rise 10 fold; no. 3 that joining would mean half the population losing their jobs. And I've also noticed on my computer pop-up Google ads telling me I risk getting tuberculosis by visiting the Maidan (there's personalised ads for you!).
With the news that the EU has suspended negotiations on the agreementlikely to further inflame the mood, at least 200,000 people packed into Independence Square, known as the maidan, to hear music and speeches from the trio of Ukrainian politicians who have attempted to lead the spontaneous outpouring of anger.
They were joined early in the afternoon by US Republican senator John McCain, who has made a sport of baiting Vladimir Putin at various locations across the former Soviet Union.
"The destiny you seek lies in Europe," McCain told the crowd, to rapturous applause. "People of Ukraine, this is your moment. The free world is with you, America is with you, I am with you."
McCain was joined by a Democratic senator Chris Murphy, who told the crowds they were making history. "If you are successful, the US Senate will stand with you all the way," he said, in comments likely to infuriate Moscow, which has accused Brussels and the west of interfering in Ukrainian politics.
"Ukraine will make Europe better and Europe will make Ukraine better," he said to crowds protesting against President Viktor Yanukovich's U-turn in trade policy away from Europe towards Russia.
"We are here to support your just cause, the sovereign right of Ukraine to determine its own destiny freely and independently. And the destiny you seek lies in Europe," said McCain, a leading Republican voice on US foreign policy.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, McCain said: “What we're trying to do is try to bring about a peaceful transition here, that would stop the violence and give the Ukrainian people what they unfortunately have not had, with different revolutions that have taken place – a real society. This is a grassroots revolution here – it's been peaceful except when the government tried to crack down on them, and the government hasn't tried that since.
“I'm praising their ability and their desire to demonstrate peacefully for change that I think they deserve.”
Asked about Russian president Vladimir Putin's role in the crisis, McCain said: “There's no doubt that Ukraine is of vital importance to Putin. I think it was [Henry] Kissinger, I'm not sure, said that Russia, without Ukraine it's an eastern power, with Ukraine it's a western power. This is the beginning of Russia, right here in Kiev. So Putin views it as most highly important and he has put pressure on Ukrainians – the price of energy, different kinds of activities. The word is very clear that he has made certain threats. Whether he would carry them through I don't know.”
“He's put pressure on Moldova, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia – all of the so-called 'near-abroad'. And of course Ukraine is the crown jewel.”
Asked by CNN host Candy Crowley whether now was a good time to be be “taking Russia on”, given US diplomatic co-operation with Russia on issues such as Iran's nuclear programme and the civil war in Syria, McCain said: “I don't think we would be 'taking on Russia'.
“These people love the United States of America, they love freedom – and I don't think you could view this as anything other than our traditional support for people who want free and democratic society.”
McCain may as well have got out a copy of The Grand Chessboard by Zbigniew Brzezinski and started quoting from it.
No, can't say I have; was just passing on the comment as it seemed of interest.just out of interest have you read the set of demands that the EU has made to the Ukranian parliament that theyve rejected ?