Ukraine has become a hot bed of international dealings lately. Russia has assembled a huge army with weapons drawn just a stone throw away from the eastern border of Ukraine. Russian annexation of Crimea within the last month demonstrates that Russian forces are ready to force their way into eastern Ukraine at moment notice. Why Russia and the international community have so much interest on Ukraine, one of the poorest and corrupt countries in the world?
Russia where the country straddles much of Asia is looking for a major presence in the Western Europe and Ukraine provides that foothold. Russia is competing with the European Union to stop its expansion eastward and Ukraine can add weight in Russia’s efforts. Most of all Russian Black Sea force naval force is located in Sevastopol in Crimea and its gas pipelines to Europe runs through Ukraine. Western world look to free and democratic Ukraine to stop Russia’s Putin and expand the European Union’s influence eastward to the door step of Russia. Energy starving China looks to Ukraine for not only for energy but also for agricultural products. Ukraine on the other hand badly needs several billion dollars to pay bills without bankrupting the entire country.