The two countries do, of course, share deep roots.
Both embraced the Orthodox Christian faith, and
both are culturally Slavic. Russian is still the
dominant language in eastern Ukraine, and is spoken
by the vast majority of Ukrainians.
This is part of the reason for the old guard's
ties to Russia. In addition, many of the older
generation grew up revering the Soviet heroes,
and to this day there are a good number of statues
of Lenin in key locations around the country,
including in prominent locations in Kyiv, Yalta
and Sevastopol.
Yet Ukraine's pro-European orientation is a strong
force, and explains a general agreement in the
country - at all levels - that the future lies
with Europe. It also explains why the main three
parties vying for control of the government are
not far apart on most foreign policy issues.
At the same time, pragmatists note that Ukraine
must maintain good relations with Russia. It is
dependent on Russia for 75 percent of the 80 million
cubic meters of gas it uses every year, much of
that for industry, and Russia is both the main
investor and trading partner of Ukraine.
Ironically, foreign investors have preferred
Russia to Ukraine, in everything from hotels to
energy companies. Last year, Shell became the
first Western major to invest in the energy sector
when it put $100 million into a joint exploration
project with a subsidiary of governmentowned Naftogaz
Ukrainy. Russia, by comparison, has had major
investments by Western oil companies for years.
Patrick van Daele, Shell's general manager in
Ukraine, said that while he had been successful
in recruiting "very high caliber people,"
the virtual government monopoly of the energy
sector was a major hindrance to its successful
development. He said that though he had found
there was recognition among engineers and technicians
in the industry that Shell's technology and financial
resources were needed to reach unexploited deposits
of hydrocarbons, the people in charge were preoccupied
with ownership and control issues.
Van Daele noted that with improved efficiencies,
a great deal of gas wastage could be stopped,
but that political will was still lacking to make
the necessary changes in metering and implementation
of more efficient technologies.
"Old people have old ways," he said
simply.
Nevertheless, while Russia under Vladimir Putin
appears to be increasingly nationalistic in politics
and business, the entry of Shell into the Ukrainian
market, and the overall opening of the country
to foreign investment and participating in everything
from development to manufacturing, would seem
to point to a new phase in Ukraine characterized
by ever closer ties with the West. This is undoubtedly
the trend for Ukraine's new generation of leaders,
in all spheres.
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