Ukraine… What has this country been to the world in the last few months? Polygon for the negotiation between the high and mighty? Part of the deal between the United States, European Union and Russia about something more? Or the easiest way for Russian Federation to remind the world and itself of its status? Probably a little of everything.

For the last couple of years, relations between the U.S. and Russia, which have never been too warm, undergo even more cooling. On the one hand, the reason is that the two countries have different objectives at this stage — for the United States it is creation of a free trade zone with the European Union, as well as the increase of their own power, deteriorated over the past few years due to the ongoing war operations and the growing power of China. For Russia, such purposes are popularizing their own image in the world, at the expense of the notoriously unprofitable sports events, and intensification of the energy cooperation with China, which, not wishing to get into conflict with any of the hegemonies understands the economic benefits of cooperation with each one of them. On the other hand, it seems that the United States and the Russian Federation can not quite maintain a constructive dialogue at this stage, mostly because Vladimir Putin is not used to negotiate with diplomats and Barack Obama — with people who build relationships from a position of power. So constructive interlocutor for Mr. Putin could be considered George W. Bush, who, like most Republican leaders, brushed aside any verbal attempts of the Russian president to show the superpower of his state. With the help of the military operations, ex-president of the United States kept on showing who is to be called a chief on the world map. However, due to the policies of the previous administration of U.S. President, America’s current authorities, instead of showing military power and supporting pro-democratic part of Europe, tend to apply (or mostly threaten to apply) economic and political sanctions against the Russian aggressors, realizing the fact that the territorial sovereignty of the Eastern Europe countries and the overall stability in the region is at stake.

Considering the foregoing, it seems that at the moment all the stars have converged for the Russian president — the relative stability of the Russian economy; oil & gas and other unpreparedness of Europe to isolate itself from contractual relations with Russia, and accordingly — from indirect financing of Russia’s war actions; the weakness of the Leader of the Free World, and the non-conflict of China — these are the main factors that, together with the disorganization of the new Ukrainian government, have led to the Russian aggression towards its western neighbor.

According to the statements made by Sergiy Pashynsky, ex-Head of the Administration of Ukraine’s former Acting President, and Vitaliy Yarema, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, sabotage operations carried out by Russian troops, are being funded by the former president of Ukraine — Viktor Yanukovych who is now in hiding. Thus, Russian financial contribution in the sabotage operations carried out in Crimea and eastern part of Ukraine is not so great, what means these actions might take place for a quite long period of time, demotivating Europe and the United States to fight for peace in the region.

Besides, an essential part of the foreign policy of the United States and Russia is demonstrating their imperial way of thinking, showing the world that they exclusively are the states that define global geopolitics and the spheres of influence. In 2014, we are all surprised that Ukraine — “brotherly nation” to the Russians” — as Vladimir Putin expressed himself — is the victim. But perhaps this is just another round of geopolitics, the old dream of the Russian president to gradually revive the Soviet Union, which the U.S. do not prevent, and probably do not want to. The reason could be simple — in the recent years U.S. intelligence agencies could have explored Russian military potential so well, and have invested so much in their own military power, that the USA do not see much threat to the global stability in the actions of the Russian Federation. For its part, Vladimir Putin is not looking to pick a fight — his only intention is to reconstruct Soviet superpower state ruined by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Therefore, in confrontation with Russia the former socialist republics — Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania — seem to be the most active — those who have not forgotten all the charm of Soviet domination. Likewise, European leaders — Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande — are looking forward to an action plan from Barack Obama. But it seems that the present European visit of the U.S. President is mainly to assure Merkel and Hollande that there is no real threat in the actions of Russia, it is just a redistribution of the spheres of influence, which was previously determined by the areas of entire nations, and now is even divided into regions.

In general, Ukraine is the only injured party from such actions and omissions of the United States and Russia. On the one hand, most people in Ukraine are united as never before in their desire to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the territorial claims of the Russian Federation. On the other hand, after the end of hostilities, regardless of the outcome, a large number of Ukrainians (or former Ukrainians — if even more territories are to be annexed) will remain dissatisfied with the inertia of the Ukrainian authorities, who throughout the whole so-called “anti-terrorist operation” never committed any actions that would force Russian invaders to retreat and stop further annexation of Ukrainian territories. That once again have proved the thesis that “there is no effective army in Ukraine”.

Well, hostilities continue, and supporters (including the newfound ones) of Ukraine’s territorial integrity can only hope that the military and other aid from the allies of Ukraine will be increasing, or that the Eastern Ukraine will no longer pose as much interest for Vladimir Putin as it is now. Or, the least likely — that Viktor Yanukovych runs out of money.