This looks like a pivotal moment when the Ukraine will fall either mainly into the orbit of the European Union, or back into the orbit of Russia.
Street demonstrations could lead to violence. In a previous century these would have led to threats of armed invasion. In this century it is not impossible that they will lead to offers of peace-keeping forces.
There is also an understated linked contradiction with the religious split reflecting centuries of different historical experience between the Catholic west and the Orthodox east.
And there will be confused class differences in the stance taken by different layers of society. However obscurely understood, this too is class struggle, and the demonstraters will intuitively immediately know whether they are among their own type. On thisthe future history of middle Europe may depend, as to which of two main blocs of capital dominate.
I suggest.
Chris Burford London
