RESOLVING THE UKRAINE CRISIS

Ukraine's newly-elected authorities should take into account the interests of all citizens of the country. Ukraine will never cease to be a bridge between Europe and Russia. The ideal solution for Ukraine, like every informed observer has already pointed out, is a federalist Ukraine with strong autonomous regions. Each region would have jurisdiction over its economy, finances, culture, language, and education, and external economic and cultural connections with neighboring countries or regions.

Today, Ukraine appears awash with competing outside interests manipulating its politics, domestic oligarchs who care little for the people of Ukraine and shoiwing no sign of having developed an authentic civil society in the past few decades. The coup in Kiev, predictably only elevated the already heightened tensions in the country.

Federalization would diffuse tensions and restore order while also giving greater autonomy to Ukraine's region. No matter what the political remedy undertaken, none will work unless there is a concerted effort by Russia, Ukraine and the European Union to deflate the crisis for the common good, rather than escalate it by playing Ukrainians off one another, inciting faction and violence, pursuing narrow policies which serve narrow and short term interests and last but not least promoting increased sanctions to punish and isolate Russia further.

Everybody should sit at the table- the Europeans, the Ukrainian Government, and the Russian Government and try to find out a modus operandi that satisfies all the players.