the point is they don't live in mud-huts, their houses and infrastructure are better than on the other side of the border, doesn't matter why
I honestly don't know, I've never visited Lviv and its area (unfortunately).
But despite what you say, still many Poles from theses areas (eastern Poland) prefer to leave the country (and may never return). What do you think will happen with Ukrainians?
Nah, with the current technology certain advances happen very fast, it's the people's mentality that lags behind, in fact, paradoxically, infrastructural backwardness my actually play to a country's advantage as it can, at least theoretically, upgrade directly to the best bypassing more obsolete stages still in use elsewhere. I'd say 2 generations.
Two generations? Should we expect the current generation to sacrifice their lives for their grand-children?
Also, to get the latest iPhones and cars, cuz they will 'need' those, they will have to work 3, 4, 5 times as hard as Westerners. Same goes with the Poles. Ok, maybe they only need to work 2-3 times as hard. And since working that much harder will not suffice, they will get credits, and then, well... Sorry for being so negative ;)
Due to the arm conflict the attitudes have polarized and now Russia is pretty much uniformly across the whole country seen as an enemy
Well, it doesn't really matter how Russia is viewed there. What they need is a solution that will satisfy everyone, if possible of course.
But since many people there speak Russian, are actually Russian, and/or have relatives in Russia, you can't expect them to just forget who they are.
over the incompatibility of his imprisonment of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko with European values.
Apparently, Tymoshenko's past is far from being compatible with 'European values'.
PARIS - The idea that the European Union - not Russia - would acquire two French Mistral-class helicopter carriers already sold to Moscow is gaining ground as the West adopted a ban against future arms deals to Russia, and the energy and financial sectors, analysts said.
That would be weird and unprofessional. When you sell a product, you're supposed to fulfill the order and delivery of that product.
But I wouldn't be surprised if that was backed if not initiated by the US. They've been pressuring the French government to not deliver these helicopter carriers for months. Meanwhile, I heard they're still selling -and delivering- military equipment to Russia. If they were honest, they would be the first to stop selling their stuff to Russia, before asking others to do so.
I'm telling you, the EU clearly showed its limits during this conflict. Only acting when Washington asked them to. The sanctions imposed to Russia are a good example.
you and me both, what's your point anyway, now we talk Israel...?
Just pointing the fact that 'our' side may not be driven by pure humanism and brotherhood.
rather a cool-headed and comprehensive pros and cons calculus in which Russia/Russian influence loses by quite a bit to its alternatives and people really do deserve better.
That's because you think Western influence will do them good. And I still have doubts about this. The West has its own interests in mind. One of them is reducing Russia's influence in the region. It's purely geostrategical. As I said, no humanism here.
Maybe Ukraine is destined to remain between the EU and Russia, and work 'hand in hand' with both entities. I think such a possibility was discussed, before the Maidan events changed everything. For the best? Time will tell.