Crimea's port dispute

Sir, Svetlana Korenovskaya should know better, and so should WT: Crimea was never a part of Ukraine prior to 1954 as there never was a Ukraine before USSR. Crimea came under the Russian tri-color as a result of wars with the Ottoman Empire. Revisionist history is the best you can do to annoy Russia ascending. The humorous spelling of your name is something better forgotten soonest - I suggest you read the ending words of "Myertviye Dushi" by a great malo-russian Gogol. Sincerely, Mikhail Drabkin

Ukrainian civilization began in Kyiev centuries before Moscovy was a glimmer in anyone's eyes. As to malo-russians, historically - Russians are actually malo-ukrainians.

There is not such thing as Ukrainian civilization. It is worse than revisionist history. It is worse than fantasy. A few little Russian and Galician peasants brainwashed by foreign propagandists spread around fables that are actually too incredible to print - Washington Times, with its unrestrained Russophobia and lack of any sense of proportion, actually managed to print the breathtaking crap. Stuff is so bad that it is totally unbelievable. Svitlana Korenovska - what is wrong with your name? What is Oleksandr? Why weird spelling? Traditional written English is not well suited for expressing phonetic nuances of either Galician or Little Russian dialects.

"Russia's Catherine the Great annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 1783." What?!!! There was no Ukraine in 1783 and most naturally Catherine II did not annex anything from a metaphysical concept that they did not even exist. Shame on Washington Times editor for allowing this sort of crap to go to print. Hitler's propaganda never fell that low. "In the mid-19th century, Crimea served as the battlefield for Britain, France and other allies to fight Russia." Actually they invaded Russian territory (which Crimea is). Besides who are "other allies" (in plural)?

To Mikhail Drabkin (or maybe Michael or, God forbid, Mykhaylo?): you attempt to remake author's Polish last name on Russian manner looked rather strange. Leave your phonetic exercises for your private diary, so that people will not make fun of your ignorance. To astonished pseudo-historians: leave the discussion of the status of Ukrainian land before Independence to real historians.

What is Ukraine? A nice place with great climate and ubiquitous corruption. A country where the line to the immigration to Canada reached 6 years. All Ukrainians escape from Ukraine and refugees from Afghanistan and Chechnya arrive. Does it really matter if old Russian fleet will be there? Such little countries cannot be independent. If it is not under Russia it would be under Turkey. Ridiculous article about nothing. You would better write about the Russian-speaking kids in Ukraine who are deprived from the right to study in Russian. There are millions of them who have the right to get education in Russian. Who besides US-Ukraine Foundation and corrupted politicians cares about Russian ship? Average people do not care. They want jobs, health care, education, food, etc. If Russia had not helped Ukraine for centuries it would have disappeared many centuries ago. Well, Roxolana was an exception. All others would be just slaves. You would not write for a newspaper now, you would be delivering Turkish kids every year, Svitlano... Russia saved you and millions like you and you are now saying "thank you" in a very interesting way.