Russia is reclaiming Ukraine, as Stratfor writes:
Ukrainians go to the polls Feb. 7 to choose their next president. The last time they did this, in November 2004, the result was the prolonged international incident that became known as the Orange Revolution. That event saw Ukraine cleaved off from the Russian sphere of influence, triggering a chain of events that rekindled the Russian-Western Cold War. Next week’s runoff election seals the Orange Revolution’s reversal. Russia owns the first candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, outright and has a workable agreement with the other, Yulia Timoshenko. The next few months will therefore see the de facto folding of Ukraine back into the Russian sphere of influence; discussion in Ukraine now consists of debate over the speed and depth of that reintegration.
What the heck. Five years was enough time for Ukrainians to test out democracy and independence from Russia. Not that the appearance of an independent Ukraine with its own UN seat and postage stamps won't continue. Under the Soviet Union, Ukraine had a UN seat, too, if you'll recall.
Tiny Georgia getting hammered in 2008 really does seem like the signal that Russia would go on offense to restore their empire. Countries along Russia's borders--even NATO countries--will adjust course just in case they can't rely on America and the West to help them resist the grasping bear. Sadly, Ukraine's surrender doesn't just cover their own country, since the signal of Moscow capturing Kiev will be heard throughout the former Soviet Union.
Funny how things work out. Russia was actually stymied in invading tiny Georgia. But the effect was much greater, and the much larger Ukraine just turns themselves in to the Russians. Good luck with that.
