Ukraine, Europe's enigmatic frontier

[Sol Invictus]

Its name can be translated as "borderland". It neighbours four EU states to the west and Russia to the east. But the country within those frontiers has long appeared a mystery to outsiders.

February 4 2010 | Telegraph.co.uk

Almost two decades after Ukraine won independence amid the ruins of the Soviet Union, it is best known to foreigners through a string of stereotypes while its own modern national identity remains a work in progress.

The breadbasket of Eastern Europe. The beetroot soup borsch. A gas crisis that left Europe shivering. Football striker Andriy Shevchenko. Dating agencies. Chernobyl. The Orange Revolution. Pole-vault champion Sergiy Bubka.

The contenders in the presidential election run-off Sunday are also best known by perhaps deceptive stereotypes - Viktor Yanukovich as the Kremlin lackey blamed for rigging the 2004 polls and Yulia Tymoshenko as the more pro-EU prime minister with the gravity defying hair braid.

Yet the strategically located country of 46 million - by area the largest in Europe (excluding Asia-straddling Russia and Danish claims through Greenland) - is set to play a pivotal role in the continent's future in its own right.

Will the real Ukraine please stand up?

Read More Here

[d3cimat3d]

Actually the name Ukraina translates to 'the corner'

[Northern_Paladin]

The Russians will seek to Dominate the Ukraine to the detriment of Western Europe.

[DeusEx]

Sad but true.

[nisse]

Actually the name Ukraina translates to 'the corner'

...I don't believe you have any Ukrainian ancestry...

Етимологія слова «Україна» достеменно не відома. Згідно з однією з теорій, що оформилася під впливом польської і російської історіографії, воно означає «окраїну» або «прикордоння». Згідно з іншою теорією, якої притримуються більшість українських дослідників, «Україна» походить від слів «країна» або «край»[9].

Ukraine is not an ethnically homogeneous nation, and historically it has always been dominated by neighbours, but it would certainly do best to remain independent

It has never really played any terribly important part in the history of Europe, and I hope it stays this way. We are at our best when we only concern ourselves with us

[d3cimat3d]

...I don't believe you have any Ukrainian ancestry...

Krai = corner

Also, I don't really have anything to due with Ukraine, besides being a citizen of Ukraine, since I was born and grew up there, other than that I'm very minimally Ukrainian by ancestry.

[nisse]

Krai = corner

ugol/kut = corner

krai = edge/border/area

[d3cimat3d]

ugol/kut = corner

krai = edge/border/area

Whatever, same shit, I win.

[nisse]

Whatever, same shit, I win.

If you're going to nitpick instead of posting on topic, at least make sure you're right.

To be honest, I take offence at your apparent disrespect towards Ukraine, which is my motherland. Please explain why you feel being 25% ukrainian gives you the right to trash the country, and what exactly preservation means to you or link me some post where you have done so already.

[d3cimat3d]

If you're going to nitpick instead of posting on topic, at least make sure you're right.

To be honest, I dislike your apparent disrespect towards Ukraine, which is my motherland. Please explain why you feel being 25% ukrainian gives you the right to trash the country, and what exactly preservation means to you or link me some post where you have done so already.

1. Corner of the world, edge of the world, pretty much the same shit, don't get all technical on me, ok?
2. I'm not 25% Ukrainian, more like 12.5%.
3. I didn't trash Ukraine, I simply pointed out a fact that it's corrupt, to the point where any tourist will be drained of their money by police and other goverment officials.
4. It's not my fault that your motherland is corrupt, so don't get mad at me.
5. What gives me the right to talk about Ukraine? Well I was born in Simferopol, and grew up there, so it's my right just as it is any other Ukrainians right.