The media and the oligarchical Ukrainian parliament sustain the illusion of religious and cultural divide there as Russia versus the West. The real conflict, which will eventually arise, in Ukraine, as elsewhere, is socioeconomic inequality. Less than one percent of Ukrainians control that nation's economy. It is this one percent, regardless of their religion (Catholic, Orthodox, Jew) which have a vested interest in deflecting the true crisis as it manipulates das Volk via the media and parliament to protect its own economic interest.

Mark, Greenville, North Carolina

My view is that the Ukraine would be much better off negotiationg low natural gas rates and an industrialization program with Russia instead of with the western world because, clearly Russia has the greater gas supplies, and the West does not, also Russia has full politicial control over any gas that flows west from there, therefore just from a purely practical standpoint it does not make a whole lot of sense for them to pretend to be eastern Europe when clearly they are more western Russia and when it comes right down to it, a pluralistic society in Russia helping Russia to stay pro western would not be such a bad idea either, therefore since each continent should provide for their own defense I propose that Asia provides for its own defense by defending the Ukraine against western political leaders that try to annex it contrary to sound economic and political sense, with the idea that their ideology is superior that of Mr Putin!

I disagree it is merely different !

JOHN ADAMS WEAVER, utah, utah

I found some offensive words in this article. What author mean when wrote "if it fails to throw him even a few sops, that will be an expensive mistake"? Guys are you still overloaded with the White Man's Burden? Remember: the door to EC was closed to Ukraine. So what do you want to offer for 42 mln. of Ukrainians? Be careful with the words...

Yuri, Odessa, Ukraine

Ukraine is really two countries, and not so different from the circumstances that Ireland endured for so many decades. Though there has not been abject street violence in Kiev the way that Belfast experienced, the Russian culture and the Ukrainian cultures do not welcome each other. It has been said that Russians from the east travel to Lvov with care, and some have been beaten by townspeople in Lvov for visiting the western part of the country.

The internal conflicts might be resolvable, but for the ironclad fact that Pres. Putin will not allow Ukraine to go west. The Russian forces in Ukraine will lobby and push for Ukraine to be largely a Russian hued country; note that in Kiev, most business publications are in the Russian language. Russian is the language of the business class, and is established among the moneyed interests in Ukraine.

At the moment, I do not see the west stepping into the equation. The US might have become involved, but Iraq/Iran is the 600 kilo elephant.

Misha, Chicago, Illinois

How ignorant!
Ukraine can be more europien on its own terms, without need for all "sops" from anyone. Other counties should leave it along, stop giving "sops" to their preferred person and pushing it (based on their best interest, NOT Ukraine's) anywhere, specially to the relationship based on "sops". With the strong industry, imazing people, numerous resourses, it can take the honorable place it deserves in this world.

Irene, Purchase, US

How very typical and arrogant! "Throw him a few sops"! That's what is apparently wrong with the Orange revolution: its leaders do not look after their country. Rather, they look for "a few sops" from the West. And you think that the Ukrainians should gladly accept them (the sops and such leaders alike). I am not a Ukrainian, but if I were, I would be deeply offended.

Oleg, Ontario, Canada

I think the difficulties are increased since the strongest countries in the world decided to interfere in Ukraine. It is correct that the country is split in two halves, but there is no doubt many problems could be solved in better way if nobody had interfered in Ukrainian Home politics.

Alessandro, Rome, Italy

Surely the expensive mistake is the habit of the USA to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries blatantly for its own rather than the target country's population's interests.

Iraq might reflect on this

DM, Eastbourne, UK

The East and the South were for centures united nation with Russia, united in their church. Not many of them want to be a part of Russia now but when generations of their ancestors dripped their blood for common country with Russians, when almost half of population are either Russians or have Russian roots you think they now madly crave for NATO's bases and solders on their land? Then you will be disappointed. As for the West they always pass on from a country to country in the past and they don't know who they really are, what nation they represent. At least in the East they who are Ukrainians by their nationality refuse to regard the westerners as Ukrainians.
I sincerely hope that Ukrainians won't go too far in their clashes. Sorry for my poor English.

Serguei, Rossosh, Russia

A case of unconscious irony: Someone from the United Kingdom ( a country with FOUR teams in the FIFA World Cup hunt) opining that Ukraine ( a country with one football team) would be better off it it splits in half!

If the UK, an aggolomeration of different ethnic nations can endure as a political nation, so, too, can Ukraine-- a country where one ethnic group (Ukrainians) is in the dominant majority in every region, save the Crimea.

No serious political force in Ukraine favors partition. Ukraine has major differences between east and West, but neither region favors nor countenances separation.

Adrian , New York, NY USA

There never was a referendum on division in Czechoslovakia. Division was a product of agreement between Czech and Slovakian goverments even that majority of people were against division.

Peter, Bratislava, Slovakia

Ukraine is a torn country. The west is European, the east is Russian. It is evident that the two sides are becoming increasingly polarised. Ukraine should hold a referendum on division just like Czechoslovakia. Both sides would be much happier, and could choose to reuinfy when they appreciate their common values rather than their differences.

Richard, Preston, UK