tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post2647543194497719977..comments2023-09-17T10:57:35.535+03:00Comments on Ukrainiana: From Hawk to Dove, or Tymoshenko’s Ghostwritten AdventuresTarashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-3194368267505938632009-03-16T11:50:00.000+02:002009-03-16T11:50:00.000+02:00Of those French people who know Anne de Kiev, most...Of those French people who know <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Kiev" REL="nofollow">Anne de Kiev</A>, most think of her as “Russian” anyway.<BR/><BR/>The credit goes to Russian historians (imperial, Soviet and post-Soviet), who glorifyingly traced Rossiya to Kyivan Rus, skipping a few centuries of Tatar rule and Muscovy.<BR/><BR/>A non-country for centuries, Ukraine has yet to set the record straight on history, revive its identity, and break away from the shadow of colonialism.<BR/><BR/>It’s hard to think of our elite as up to the task. <BR/><BR/>That goes for Yulia de Kyiv, too.Tarashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-54360122670079970622009-03-13T15:40:00.000+02:002009-03-13T15:40:00.000+02:00Let's see about ties between Ukraine and France.As...Let's see about ties between Ukraine and France.<BR/><BR/>As I recall, there was something about a daughter of one of the ancient rulers of Ukraine who married the French king. All in accordance with the "royal" custom of giving away daughters to solidify political alliances in Europe.<BR/><BR/>Along with that came a Bible from Ukraine, which was used for many years to swear in French rulers.<BR/><BR/>Can you fill in the blanks, Taras?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-71621969861854718012009-03-13T14:00:00.000+02:002009-03-13T14:00:00.000+02:00Je ne sais pas. I dunno:)So far, France has not be...Je ne sais pas. I dunno:)<BR/><BR/>So far, France has not been a big friend of Ukraine, some casual overtures notwithstanding. <BR/><BR/>Here’s a short timeline:<BR/><BR/><B>March 2007</B> Tymoshenko visits France and meets with presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, despite Ségolène Royal being the more obvious choice. (In 2006, Tymoshenko planned to join the Socialist International.)<BR/><BR/><B>October 2007</B> Sarkozy writes a <A HREF="http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/4783/" REL="nofollow">romantic letter to Tymoshenko</A>, addressing her on a first-name basis, inviting her to France, and promising support for Ukraine.<BR/><BR/><B>January 2008</B> Yushchenko, Tymoshenko and Yatsenyuk write a letter of application for a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).<BR/><BR/><B>April 2008</B> France joins Germany in refusing to grant a MAP to Ukraine.<BR/><BR/>When I think of Tymoshenko, Sarkozy and Putin, I think of weird science.Tarashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-83131752378867469212009-03-12T17:56:00.000+02:002009-03-12T17:56:00.000+02:00One positive aspect of Tymoshenko's sudden Franco...One <A HREF="http://http://uaiad.blogspot.com/2009/03/french-plan-to-promote-ukraine.html" REL="nofollow">positive aspect </A> of Tymoshenko's sudden Francophilia?John Kalitkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720388640937176898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-35824153685045245802009-03-12T17:00:00.000+02:002009-03-12T17:00:00.000+02:00Well, it doesn’t take a Tymoshenko to realize that...Well, it doesn’t take a Tymoshenko to realize that free and fair trade would benefit Ukraine:)<BR/><BR/>Btw, while in France, she did an interview with Le Monde <I><A HREF="http://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2009/03/03/ioulia-timochenko-il-faut-des-elections-anticipees-en-ukraine_1162457_3210.html" REL="nofollow">Le Monde</A></I>. <BR/><BR/>“Her” line of English articles leaves me scratching my head. For a person who doesn’t speak English, “writing” scholarly articles in English turns the idea of credibility on its head. (That’s not to mention the flip-flopping.)<BR/><BR/>Interestingly, <A HREF="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/11/france.sarkozy.nato/index.html?eref=rss_world" REL="nofollow">France already seems to be making a comeback to NATO</A>, while Tymoshenko courts the Kremlin and remains NATO-averse.Tarashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139892487573795049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19297350.post-61015314049607554432009-03-11T17:00:00.000+02:002009-03-11T17:00:00.000+02:00To underscore your point about her duplicitous mes...To underscore your point about her duplicitous messaging, isn't it interesting that in looking to France for leadership, Tymoshenko decides to make her pitch in English?<BR/><BR/>Regardless, I do agree with her point about embracing a free trade agreement with the rest of Europe.John Kalitkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720388640937176898noreply@blogger.com