And what is the actual problem with this ? Ukraine wants to become a Westernised country and these are the steps it needs to take in order to do so. Where else will it get the skills and help it needs ?
How will Ukraine end up less independent than Poland which is subject to similar interactions with the US and EU ?
No system is perfect and I’d rather not have big US investment banks offering me advice, but it’s a far lesser evil than the alternatives on offer.
Finally, this quote:
“Ukraine may have to adapt its regulatory environment to reflect a new dependency on foreign investment,”
Ukraine almost certainly didn’t have a regulatory environment worth the name up to now. A fresh start is needed anyway.
Does the author actually have any constructive suggestions to offer here ? Or just implied criticism ?
Agree PB. EU isn’t perfect but can exert some essential good governance influence.
Obviously the historical legacy of the Marshal Plan in Western Europe didn’t work out so bad either, even if still debated.
Europe done a generally good job at building free democratic economies post collapse of Soviet bloc – one has to stand back with perspective to see that for all the current problems. And even before that with prior Dictatorships of Spain, Portugal. It’s quite a track record. What could have happened instead etc?
So much to indicate the West can do the same for Ukraine if we retain self confidence and unity.
Who says Ukraine wants to become a westernized country? There’s plenty to dislike about the EU, starting with the fact that unelected technocrats have the only power to propose new laws.
To the best of our knowledge, the majority of Ukrainians do so – certainly when you subtract Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. They certainly won’t be voluntarily signing up in the Russian camp now. Any port in a storm right now.
I’m no fan of the EU either, but it should be their choice. And being Western-leaning does not necessitate joining the EU.
The problem is: the only other choice is a kleptocratic nightmare state, that is now waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. Oh yes, they also cut off people’s heads, and shoot children.
Hard choice?
Russia isn’t the only choice. They can choose to be a democracy and reject the EU. They can choose to join the EU, but reject all the baggage that comes with western nations right now. There doesn’t have to be a binary choice.
Russia isn’t the only choice. They can choose to be a democracy and reject the EU. They can choose to join the EU, but reject all the baggage that comes with western nations right now. There doesn’t have to be a binary choice.
To the best of our knowledge, the majority of Ukrainians do so – certainly when you subtract Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. They certainly won’t be voluntarily signing up in the Russian camp now. Any port in a storm right now.
I’m no fan of the EU either, but it should be their choice. And being Western-leaning does not necessitate joining the EU.
The problem is: the only other choice is a kleptocratic nightmare state, that is now waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. Oh yes, they also cut off people’s heads, and shoot children.
Hard choice?
Agree PB. EU isn’t perfect but can exert some essential good governance influence.
Obviously the historical legacy of the Marshal Plan in Western Europe didn’t work out so bad either, even if still debated.
Europe done a generally good job at building free democratic economies post collapse of Soviet bloc – one has to stand back with perspective to see that for all the current problems. And even before that with prior Dictatorships of Spain, Portugal. It’s quite a track record. What could have happened instead etc?
So much to indicate the West can do the same for Ukraine if we retain self confidence and unity.
Who says Ukraine wants to become a westernized country? There’s plenty to dislike about the EU, starting with the fact that unelected technocrats have the only power to propose new laws.
Peter B
1 year ago
And what is the actual problem with this ? Ukraine wants to become a Westernised country and these are the steps it needs to take in order to do so. Where else will it get the skills and help it needs ?
How will Ukraine end up less independent than Poland which is subject to similar interactions with the US and EU ?
No system is perfect and I’d rather not have big US investment banks offering me advice, but it’s a far lesser evil than the alternatives on offer.
Finally, this quote:
“Ukraine may have to adapt its regulatory environment to reflect a new dependency on foreign investment,”
Ukraine almost certainly didn’t have a regulatory environment worth the name up to now. A fresh start is needed anyway.
Does the author actually have any constructive suggestions to offer here ? Or just implied criticism ?
And what is the actual problem with this ? Ukraine wants to become a Westernised country and these are the steps it needs to take in order to do so. Where else will it get the skills and help it needs ?
How will Ukraine end up less independent than Poland which is subject to similar interactions with the US and EU ?
No system is perfect and I’d rather not have big US investment banks offering me advice, but it’s a far lesser evil than the alternatives on offer.
Finally, this quote:
“Ukraine may have to adapt its regulatory environment to reflect a new dependency on foreign investment,”
Ukraine almost certainly didn’t have a regulatory environment worth the name up to now. A fresh start is needed anyway.
Does the author actually have any constructive suggestions to offer here ? Or just implied criticism ?
Agree PB. EU isn’t perfect but can exert some essential good governance influence.
Obviously the historical legacy of the Marshal Plan in Western Europe didn’t work out so bad either, even if still debated.
Europe done a generally good job at building free democratic economies post collapse of Soviet bloc – one has to stand back with perspective to see that for all the current problems. And even before that with prior Dictatorships of Spain, Portugal. It’s quite a track record. What could have happened instead etc?
So much to indicate the West can do the same for Ukraine if we retain self confidence and unity.
Who says Ukraine wants to become a westernized country? There’s plenty to dislike about the EU, starting with the fact that unelected technocrats have the only power to propose new laws.
Maybe it doesn’t JV but they need to be allowed to choose.
To the best of our knowledge, the majority of Ukrainians do so – certainly when you subtract Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. They certainly won’t be voluntarily signing up in the Russian camp now. Any port in a storm right now.
I’m no fan of the EU either, but it should be their choice. And being Western-leaning does not necessitate joining the EU.
The problem is: the only other choice is a kleptocratic nightmare state, that is now waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. Oh yes, they also cut off people’s heads, and shoot children.
Hard choice?
Russia isn’t the only choice. They can choose to be a democracy and reject the EU. They can choose to join the EU, but reject all the baggage that comes with western nations right now. There doesn’t have to be a binary choice.
One suspects that in time they’ll hold a referendum on joining (on assumption Russia doesn’t block it somehow). So we’ll see
One suspects that in time they’ll hold a referendum on joining (on assumption Russia doesn’t block it somehow). So we’ll see
Russia isn’t the only choice. They can choose to be a democracy and reject the EU. They can choose to join the EU, but reject all the baggage that comes with western nations right now. There doesn’t have to be a binary choice.
Maybe it doesn’t JV but they need to be allowed to choose.
To the best of our knowledge, the majority of Ukrainians do so – certainly when you subtract Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. They certainly won’t be voluntarily signing up in the Russian camp now. Any port in a storm right now.
I’m no fan of the EU either, but it should be their choice. And being Western-leaning does not necessitate joining the EU.
The problem is: the only other choice is a kleptocratic nightmare state, that is now waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. Oh yes, they also cut off people’s heads, and shoot children.
Hard choice?
Agree PB. EU isn’t perfect but can exert some essential good governance influence.
Obviously the historical legacy of the Marshal Plan in Western Europe didn’t work out so bad either, even if still debated.
Europe done a generally good job at building free democratic economies post collapse of Soviet bloc – one has to stand back with perspective to see that for all the current problems. And even before that with prior Dictatorships of Spain, Portugal. It’s quite a track record. What could have happened instead etc?
So much to indicate the West can do the same for Ukraine if we retain self confidence and unity.
Who says Ukraine wants to become a westernized country? There’s plenty to dislike about the EU, starting with the fact that unelected technocrats have the only power to propose new laws.
And what is the actual problem with this ? Ukraine wants to become a Westernised country and these are the steps it needs to take in order to do so. Where else will it get the skills and help it needs ?
How will Ukraine end up less independent than Poland which is subject to similar interactions with the US and EU ?
No system is perfect and I’d rather not have big US investment banks offering me advice, but it’s a far lesser evil than the alternatives on offer.
Finally, this quote:
“Ukraine may have to adapt its regulatory environment to reflect a new dependency on foreign investment,”
Ukraine almost certainly didn’t have a regulatory environment worth the name up to now. A fresh start is needed anyway.
Does the author actually have any constructive suggestions to offer here ? Or just implied criticism ?