When hard times strike a family it becomes necessary to take unpleasant measures to survive. Some family treasures usually have to be sacrificed to solve the cash crisis. This often involves down sizing of cars and houses. The pragmatic accept that hard decisions are necessary - and take them !
Ukraine now has a dangerous crisis on it's hands. Government bungling has drained it's treasury and it is close to defaulting on it's international debt. A popular uprising in the capital has displaced a corrupt president and a new government is being formed. This is far from unanimity because the east of the country is Russian speaking and leans to that country while the western majority wishes to assimilate with Europe.
The Russian president is conducting war games at Ukraine's border and the eastern state of Crimea hosts the port for the Russian Black Sea fleet. Russian history contains a tendency for invasion where countries it regards as satellites stray from the Russian embrace. Russia and the rest of the world gaze across a diplomatic abyss.
This is precisely the reason why the world formed the United Nations. The world body is supposed to step in and resolve such tensions. Resolution usually means " give and take " with all parties having to accept some unpleasant realities for the common good. The Ukraine situation could be resolved with some hard bargaining.
Russia is unlikely to agree to giving up it's port for the Black Sea fleet and it's Russian speaking east wish to remain " Russian ". The United Nations should negotiate a territory for cash swop - similar to the " Louisiana Purchase " that saw part of America purchased from France - in exchange for the billions that Ukraine needs to refinance it's economy. Selling the Crimea to Russia resolves the two outstanding issues.
That is certainly hard medicine for the people of Ukraine. They are giving up part of their country, but exchanging that which does not wish to be a part of their Federation for an injection of funds that will restore the good life for a newly minted Ukraine. Russia has long desired to own the Crimea, hence such an arrangement would solve both problems.
No doubt losing Crimea would stick in the craw of many Ukranian's, but solving problems always comes at a price. The alternative is long years of grinding austerity as the country tries to extract itself from debt and the huge injection of funds would refinance a rejuvenated Ukraine to take it's place as a European country.
What is needed now is quick action, before events deteriorate further and slip past the point of no return.
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