KUHNER: Will Ukraine survive?

[IreneLviv]

KUHNER: Will Ukraine survive?
Covetous Putin calls the sovereign nation 'Little Russia'

... the Russian bear seeks an even bigger prize: Ukraine. This nation of 46 million, whose size is that of Germany and Britain combined, is of vital geopolitical importance - to both Russia and the West. Ukraine literally means borderland. Throughout the centuries, hostile neighbors - Russia, Poland, Lithuania - have sought to control Ukraine's rich resources and minerals. Because of its geographic location, Ukraine's fate has been to serve as a bridge between Asia and Europe; it straddles the civilizational fault line separating West and East.

Mr. Yanukovych, however, has again proved the adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. He is a Russophile thug who is slowly forging an authoritarian state. His government has centralized power, repealing amendments to the constitution - without public debate or any kind of vote - that substantially weaken parliament. Media censorship is on the rise. Journalists critical of the regime have disappeared mysteriously. In recent regional elections, opposition parties were harassed. Ballot tampering and voter fraud were rampant.


KUHNER: Will Ukraine survive? - Washington Times

[bm-21Lemko]

I don't think Yulia was any better. I guess thats what happens when your country's economy is in trouble.

So what is the dominant language in Kyiv? I hear its Russian and sometimes Ukainian. From the article the Yanu is trying to make Russian an official language and does not even use Ukrainian on his website. Its a hard sell if your own capital speaks more of one language than the official national language.

It seems like Russia is trying to deculturize Ukraine!!!

[IreneLviv]

In 5 years Yulia would not be able to do as much harm to Ukraine as this one has done during 5 months

[stepanstas]

Originally Posted by bm-21Lemko

So what is the dominant language in Kyiv? I hear its Russian and sometimes Ukainian.

My sister visited Kyiv about a year ago. Said she heard English more often then Ukrainian, and that doesn't mean she heard either that often.

[AkMike]

Russian is the dominate spoken language in central and eastern Ukraine. But almost everyone now knows Ukrainian. All documents for almost anything is in Ukrainian too. I seldom hear english spoken. but most under 30 can speak or at least understand it.

[bm-21Lemko]

Originally Posted by AkMike

Russian is the dominate spoken language in central and eastern Ukraine. But almost everyone now knows Ukrainian. All documents for almost anything is in Ukrainian too. I seldom hear english spoken. but most under 30 can speak or at least understand it.

I've heard that. In the military the current ICT site for training russian is Eastern Ukraine.

But my point is if people choose Russian to speak over Ukrainian in just everyday conversation it just squanders the argument to not make Russian a national language especially in the capital.

[IreneLviv]

In W Ukraine a very small percentage of those under 30 speak Russian.
Russian as a national language will mean the end to Ukrainian and to Ukraine as an independent state
I have already written about this back in August:
the Ukrainian language is but the only 'atttibute' of Ukraine surviving and cementing the nation. After all these years of suppression it needs preferential conditions for its development, otherwise it will be overshadowed, overwhelmed and finally annihilated by Russian