Why Is Ukraine Important?

Ukraine is more than a late-night punchline or a pawn in U.S. domestic politics. It is a country rich in resources and history. Dennis Carter, recently retired career foreign service officer after 38 years in the Department of State, including postings in Kuwait, Peru, France, Jordan, the United Kingdom, and Grenada takes deep into the the history and the importance of Ukraine on the world stage. Strategically, it abuts western Russia. Other nations have coveted its territory for centuries because it is the “breadbasket of Europe, has rich mineral resources, and lately, technology. In recent years Ukraine has had to resist Russian incursions, especially a take-over of Crimea and threats to the Donbass region. Also listen to our 2014 interview with Ambassador Lawrence Taylor on the conflict in Ukraine.