The dangerous rivalry for the Ukraine

Vanguard April 2014 p. 7
Max O.

(This photo of the WW2 Nazi Collaborator Stepan Bandera is now hanging in Kiev's City Hall)

“The characteristic feature of imperialism is precisely that it strives to annex not only agrarian territories, but even most highly industrialised regions (German appetite for Belgium; French appetite for Lorraine), because (1) the fact that the world is already partitioned obliges those contemplating a redivision to reach out for every kind of territory, and (2) an essential feature of imperialism is the rivalry between several great powers in the striving for hegemony, i.e., for the conquest of territory, not so much directly for themselves as to weaken the adversary and undermine his hegemony.”

Vladimir Lenin, “Imperialism, the Highest/Latest Stage of Capitalism”

The above quote from Lenin encapsulates the current struggle going on in the Ukraine since November 2013. The confrontation and occupation in the Kiev Maidan (the central square of Kiev) and the United States (US) and European Union (EU) sponsored coup against an elected government and president, is essentially a struggle between two factions of the Ukrainian bourgeoisie and how they align with the opposing imperialist powers of the US/EU and Russia.

When Ukraine became an independent country after the collapse of the USSR, former leaders of the Ukrainian state took over personal ownership of the nation's privatised industries, became billionaires and forged links with either Western bankers and the IMF or with Russian oligarchs. Ukraine's present bankruptcy stems from these billionaires transforming the country to capitalism and  pillaging the nation's assets.

These new Ukrainian billionaires brought misery to the working class, with the rise of unemployment and the erosion of living conditions. The Ukrainian peoples’ willingness to revolt stems from both the country's  financial and political bankruptcy.

The collapse of the Ukraine economy under capitalism

Consequently the ordinary people have become thoroughly disillusioned with the political leadership that is coupled with the billionaire class in Ukraine's recent history - whether it be Viktor Yushchenko (past president) and Yulia Tymoshenko (past prime minister) who align themselves with the US and EU capitalism, or Viktor Yanukovych (recently overthrown president) who aligned with the Russia Oligarchs.

This is demonstrated by the 40% fall of GDP from 1991 to 1999, with a quarter of the populace living below the poverty line and life expectancy falling to 69 years. The comprador nature of the two differing factions of the Ukrainian capitalist class, is illustrated by the fact that foreign investments in 2012 were $55 billion whilst investments abroad were only $8 billion.

Currently Ukraine is in need of $35 billion for the next 2 years to pay back its creditors from the East and West. These creditors are involved in a joint tug of war where there is much more at stake than cash; it is a battle for spheres of influence, and the expansion of economic control.

The recent economic shambles had been used by the West to pressure Ukraine to integrate with the European Union through signing an association with the EU. Yanukovich refused to sign, because the EU actually demanded from him that the country's economic, political and military sovereignty be handed over to them via their requirement for austerity measures

This refusal and acceptance of  a $15 billion aid package and a huge reduction in gas import prices offered by the Russian government, saw the US and EU manipulate Ukraine's people's economic despair into a violent riot against the Yanukovich government, where pro-nazi parties such as the Svoboda (All Ukrainian Union) and Pravy Sektor (Right Sector), were instrumental in his overthrow.

The strategic importance of Crimea

Curiously, Khrushchev in 1954 transferred the Crimea from the Russian Soviet Republic  to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. This produced unforeseen consequences conflict 60 years later.

If the US and EU could control the Ukraine and the Crimean peninsular they would then achieve strategic influence over the Black Sea. This would be another step towards strategically encircling Russia economically and militarily. It would also allow the US and EU to start breaking up the Russian dominance of oil and gas shipments to the West.

The Crimea is such a prized jewel in the rivalry between Russia and the West, for the base in Sevastopol is the home of the Russian Black Sea naval fleet. The strategic geography of Sevastopol and Crimea provide an important link for Russia to the Middle East.

In particular Crimea is the conduit where Russia supplies the Syrian government with aid and military assistance in its war against the Western supported and Islamic fundamentalist backed rebels. Understandably the Russian military moved into the Crimea when the pro-West faction of the Ukrainian ruling class and their Kiev Maidan movement overthrew the Yanukovych government.

The battle for the Ukraine is not about "Western democracy versus Russian dictatorship", for in fact Yanukovych was repeatedly elected into government. The pro-Western 'interim government' which now controls Kiev placed Ukrainian billionaires into important government posts, by-passing the Kiev Maidan people's protest movement, and ended Russian's status as a second official language anywhere in Ukraine.

They are thoroughly reactionary and ruthless. The Kiev Maidan billionaires have deep links with the Svoboda and Pravy Sektor fascists, which they used to overtake the people's protest and storm troop out the Russian influence.

The West has successfully manipulated Ukrainian chauvinism to seize political control of the country for the moment. The potential now for war over Eastern Ukraine and Crimea (where there large numbers of Russian speakers) is a possibility that is never far away.

The current turmoil in the Ukraine is the result of the seismic catastrophe of the restoration of capitalism in the USSR after the death of Stalin and also the cynical fight among the big imperialist powers over not only who gets to plunder this country, but for hegemony of empire as stated by Lenin!