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Ukraine needs both its east and west |
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By JENIA FEDOROVA
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Current events in Ukraine have deep geopolitical and historical roots. The country has a long and rich history that its people tend to forget, leading them to repeat the same mistakes. That history explains today's critical situation and gives clues to possible ways to ameliorate it. Ukrainians are divided in their thinking about the future of their country. Those in the West speak Ukrainian and want to end Russian influence in their country. They wish to become part of the European Union, for the sake of the political independence that they have been seeking for centuries. Those in the East speak Russian, are generally Russian-oriented and see the future of Ukraine only in close ties with Russia. As a Russian raised during Soviet times, when Russia and Ukraine were one state, I can't be indifferent toward Ukraine's destiny. I am reluctant to see a divided nation because the sound union of Eastern and Western Ukraine will yield positive results for the future of this potentially strong country. Ukraine has always been a divided country. In the course of its history, the East and the West had different ways of development that influenced their political, social and religious views. As a result of the Tatar invasion of Russia in the 13th to 15th centuries, Russia's southwestern lands (today's Ukraine) were divided. The westernmost regions became part of a military union, dominated by Poland and Lithuania, in the 13th to 18th centuries. The union gave its lands local political autonomy and was run as a representative democracy with a parliament and a monarch. This region in no way wanted to be part of the authoritarian and centralized Russia, where serfdom reigned. Russia continuously attempted to regain the region, fostering the Ukrainian nationalist anti-Russian sentiment. The sentiment grew stronger at the end of the 18th century, when Polish and Lithuanian rule ended. Western Ukraine was forced to rejoin the Russian Empire and lost its freedom, freedom that Eastern Ukrainian lands never knew. Contemporary Eastern Ukraine was part of Russia through all those centuries, except for a 50-year period in the 17th century, when it was invaded by the Polish-Lithuanian state. Eastern Ukrainians, who were Russian Orthodox, faced deep religious discrimination from the Roman Catholic Church, the predominant religion in the Polish-Lithuanian state. During this time, they started to think about an independent Ukraine, but they again became part of Russia. With the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, Western and Eastern Ukraine finally united and declared independence. The country did not enjoy independence for very long. When it became part of the U.S.S.R. a few years later, Ukraine wanted its government to be a confederation. That would recognize its diverse culture, economy and politics, and provide maximum local autonomy. Though the idea was not considered by the Soviet government at that time, it might be the best way to resolve the intense conflict that we face today. Nationalist sentiment is growing more aggressive in Western Ukraine because of this year's disputed presidential elections. Another vote is scheduled for this Sunday. "The orange revolution," led by Victor Yushchenko, an "American son-in-law" as Russians call him, is well under way there. Going out without an orange ribbon in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, is like walking naked. People say that they see more orange on the streets now than they see green in summer. Western Ukrainians are determined to change the system they have now because it is too much linked to imperialistic Russia. They wish to go back to what they had and appreciated so much before: freedom and independence. A people who tasted democracy will never be able to exist in any other regime, for once you have tried the best, all that is worse will not satisfy you. On the other hand, Eastern Ukrainians have a Russian mentality. They are naturally opposed to the aggressive nationalism of Western Ukraine, from which they suffered a lot in the past. They well remember the collaboration of many Western Ukrainians with Nazi Germans in the Jewish persecution during World War II, when most of Ukraine's 1.5 million Jews were wiped out. The reason for such a cruel and hypocritical act by Ukrainian nationalists was their vain hope that German Nazis would help them become independent from Russia. The choice of Eastern Ukrainians is pro-Russian candidate Victor Yanukovych. "The Ukrainian Cinderella" is his Russian nickname, for he represents an American-style "Ukrainian dream." He was driven from home by his step-mother, twice convicted for violent crimes in his youth and, in the end, managed to become prime minister of Ukraine and run for president. The elections have split the East and the West of the world, not just Ukraine. The majority of European countries, the United States and Canada seem to be unnecessarily concerned about a Ukraine that remains dependent on a big and mighty Russia. Meanwhile, Russia, China and many of the former U.S.S.R. republics rushed to congratulate Yanukovych on his victory, which was soon ruled invalid. No country knows what another country needs and expects, for each has its own history, which formed its national consciousness and its world view. Ukraine is a great country, with a long democratic experience and with talented and intellectual people. It also has a rich cultural legacy, which we Russians share and are proud of. Ukraine will find the way out without much external intervention, which only hampers the right decision-making, so crucial for the future of the country. Many Russian and Ukrainian politologists now consider the federal government -- or confederation -- for the Ukraine as the most appropriate. It is a political structure that makes the government strong because the people are strong and united. That strength will come if the Ukrainians learn from each other: The East will learn democracy from the West, and the West will learn national tolerance from the East. Jenia Fedorova is a Russian exchange journalist at the Times Union. Her e-mail address is jfedorova@timesunion.com .
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