Summing Up the Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine has always been geographically in-between the two great powers of Europe and Russia, but historically has always been very close to Russia. Economically speaking, it is also known that Russia is a great provider of gas – 15% of European resources, more than half of Ukraine’s. Russia has therefore a great deterring power there, whether it be on Europe directly or on its neighboring countries, like Ukraine and others.[1] It has actually already resorted to this device on Ukraine twice, on 2006 and 2009 after the two sides failed to settle over Ukrainian debt issues.

V. Putin and P. Porochenko (from Le Nouvel Observateur)

But in 2012, in spite of such tensions with Russia things were going in a way that predicted Ukraine’s potential partnership with the EU: Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych had begun to negotiate a trade deal with the EU. But in November 2013, the president pulled out and instead moved closer to Russia, which had proposed a $15 billion bailout to the country.

A wave of pro-EU protesters took to the streets; the conflict between the government and protesters escalated, and the latter ended up seizing the president’s office. Yanukovych denounced a coup d’état[2], and was driven off; an interim government was appointed until the next elections on May 25, 2014, that were won by Petro Porochenko. But pro-Russian and pro-Yanukovych protesters also went down the streets in the Southern and Eastern parts of Ukraine, the Southernmost known as Crimea, the region most Russophone of the country. They began occupying some administrative spots in the region, and the conflict worsened between pro- and anti-Russian.

Ukraine's ethnic map (from The Washington Post)

It is not easy to categorize people and delimitate territories since the Ukrainian population presents many differences of ethnic belonging (Ukrainians, Russians and Turkic Tatars all living together), in language, and in ideology. A survey in late 2013 showed that 53% of respondents were in favor of the EU, 35% were against, and 12% remain undecided. What is also striking is that, taken under the light of age groups, “the youngest respondents (18-29 yearsold) are twice more supportive for the EU than the oldest (60+)”. Therefore we see that the conflict is not only ethnic and political, but also generational. 

After a referendum in March at the outcome of which Crimea overwhelmingly declared her support to annexation, Putin came to sign a treaty with Crimean leaders, thereby annexing the region, to the dismay of the international community. War between the two sides did not stop though: a cease-fire was signed on September 5, however it is not always observed everywhere, some surges of violence recently appearing again. 

Ukraine's near future is not very bright: it is now in a difficult position, Russia having cut off again its gas supplying on the eve of winter and Western powers being hesitant to help considering the country's slow pace of change especially regarding gangrenous corruption. Ukraine president has recently come to the US to plead for their cause, but not much more help can be expected on the part of the Americans for now.

This article was written for this blog only.

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[1] For instance 75% of Lithuania’s energetic supplies comes from Russia, a great means of pressure considering the lack of European energetic policy for its members (Jolanta BALČIŪNIENĖ, Lithuanian ambassador in France, conference “Mid-term appraisal of the Lithuanian presidency at the head of the EU” at the Maison de l’Europe, October 17, 2013, Paris)

[2] Last March 2014, a poll by the International Republican Institute (“Public Opinion Survey of Ukraine (14–26 March 2014)", April 5, 2014) showed that 27% of the respondents in Southern and Eastern Ukraine viewed the pro-EU protests as a coup d'état as well

Mammal Hands - Mansions of Millions of Years

Beautifully wistful and mysterious, ‘Mansions of Millions of Years’ is the latest single track by Mammal Hands, newcomers of the fine young label Gondwana Records and supported by Jamie Cullum and BBC 6 Music. This trio met in April 2012 in Norwich and quickly pooled their love of electronic, contemporary classical, world and jazz music. They will release their debut album Animalia on 15th September…

The piano opens the track calmly, and right from the start we can perceive pianist Nick Smart‘s drawing from minimalist composers like Terry Riley or Steve Reich to create hypnotic rhythmic patterns in his music, giving an interesting uncertain feel to the track. We can detect an overall insidious oriental mood to the music – another influence of the group, its drummer Jesse Barrett having studied Indian Classical music, thereby giving to the group the ability to explore new ways and schemes unknown to western music.

The chemistry works well between Nick and his saxophonist brother Jordan Smart. From the middle of the track, the music takes up another dimension; you’re taken through the track’s real dynamism and soul. It’s a jazz coming very naturally to the listener even though it’s not the kind we’re used to: you can easily identify to it, and it is this very mix of feelings between intimacy and exoticism that makes it all so attractive.

After a quiet break, the piano embarks on a wonderful solo so well brought up that we don’t even notice his coming off the tracks. The saxophone comes back along the way, throwing disquieting desperate calls from far away, as old memories and fears would do when you are visiting a place full of history; ‘Mansions of Millions of Years’ manages to wake all that up within you. And the music grows, grows… you’re taken in a swirl right up to the end, the three musicians ending in apotheosis.

This article appeared on AAAmusic.co.uk.