My views on EuroMaidan

For the last month now, Ukraine has been through civil strife as a result of the move for Ukraine to join the European Union. Protests have broken out all through the country,

Now we get to Svoboda, also known as the Ukrainian Tea Party. Svoboda is made up of skinheads and about the worst radicals that anyone could imagine. Some of their platform I obviously disagree with: abortion rights, LGBT rights, Ban on adoptions by non-Ukrainians of Ukrainian children (see Wikipedia for the original link), ethnic passports (like totalitarian states do and South Africa did for years), Ukraine being a member of the CIS (which is something I don't have a problem with). The idea of ultra-right Ukrainian nationalism scares me. Fascism never works.

Although I'm not rabid about Ukraine NOT joining the European Union, the EU and Ukraine would be a horrid fit. The value of the Euro would wreck the Ukrainian economy. However, I do believe that Ukraine should have closer relations with the West, even if that means at times alienating Russia.

Furthermore, Western Ukraine needs to embrace the eastern side of the nation. There will always be disagreements, but I think my age group (of Ukrainians) are more united than my parents generation. I think a good compromise is that Ukraine not entirely join the Union, but sign onto a couple of compacts, and for Russia's comfort, not join NATO. Also, Russia nor the EU should be bullying Ukraine on these issues. Ukraine will do things in a way that suits it best. That being said, Ukraine needs to do something fast. It's economy is in shambles, not only are tariffs high but manufacturing isn't competitive there and corruption is widespread. There are signs of process, for instance, travel in Ukraine is more civilized thanks to the UEFA competition.

What made me smile was this line from this article from back in November, spurred on by a comment on the Times article:

Youth is more supportive of the European integration of their country, as 65 percent of 18-29-year-old poll participants supported EU membership. Yet, more than half of the 50-60-year-old polled residents chose to answer yes to eventual EU membership for Ukraine, informs dw.de.

I do wonder how much Euromaidan support comes from eastern Ukrainians in my age group. Are they, like their elders, critical of the movement or supportive?

Overall, I do support the efforts of the Euromaidan to some extent. Ukraine, although having a majority of its ethnic roots in Russia, is not just strictly a Russian offspring state. And I do know of divided nations: I am the citizen of one.