Russia and Ukraine, Britain and Ireland

 

 

I’m surprised more hasn’t been made of the similarities between and Britain’s relations with Ireland and Russia’s with Ukraine.  The histories of  the two pairs have  obvious similarities.

The British, or perhaps more precisely, the English, have over the centuries tended to regard the Irish as part of “Us”  whilst most if not all of the Irish think of themselves as different.  From the 12^th Century onwards English kings have claimed to be “Lords,” then Kings of Ireland and our rulers have made successive but unsuccessful attempts, stretching through the Earl of Essex, Oliver Cromwell, William of Orange, and the Black and Tans” to "sort out" Ireland, to the present compromise whereby the bulk of Ireland is allowed to be different, but the top right-hand corner remains part of “Us”( though often still different when it suits them with regard to grammar schools, gay marriage , abortion, proportional representation, Single Market membership  and maybe other quirks.)

Ukraine and Russia both claim common ancestorship with the Slavic settlers  of the 11^th century, and have been in a close relationship since the days of Catherine the Great,  who annexed he Crimea in the 18^th Century. The whole county was part of the Russian Empire (aka the Soviet Union) and  Russian is the dominant language in both the Crimea and Donbas, and a strong second in several other areas.  In these, as in Northern Ireland, a significant chunk and possible a majority of the populations would be quite happy to become (or, in the case of the Crimea, remain) part of Russia.

White smoke from the meeting of Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy during the funeral of Pope Francis indicates that an agreement to end the present fighting  may be in the offing, and involve the ceding of some Ukrainian territory to Russia.  The speculation  might, yet again, be one of Trumps wishful thoughts, but it might be true. 

If true , it will be reported as  a sell-out  and a betrayal of the Ukrainian soldiers and citizens who have given their lives in the defence of their country, and an unacceptable capitulation by the West to Putin’s  bullying.

It may be that dedicated Irish Republicans feel similarly betrayed by the retention of Northern Ireland as part of the UK.  But they know that this is not the end of the story.  By fair means (waiting patiently for demographics to  bring the Nationalists into a majority over the Unionists in Northern Ireland) or by foul means (continued terrorist/guerrilla activity) there will probably eventually be  a United Ireland.

A settlement which patriotic nationalist in Ukraine will regard as “temporary” would probably have a similar future.  Either demography, guerrilla warfare or political agitation will eventually lead to  unification or a settlement acceptable to all sides.

The alternative is to continue a war of attrition in which young Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, and hapless citizens , all equally precious to  God in the eyes of the late Francis and sincere members of other religions, continue to be sacrificed,  support from other European countries to fill the gap left by the US  will eventually peter out, and a similar “compromise “ is eventually reached several thousands of deaths and mutilations later.