I was teaching English in Slovakia during the Velvet Divorce. Part of our English conversation practice was to have students tell me about their country's new-found corruption, which was quite open. I told my students that Canada still has its corruption, but it was a lower percentage of the GDP and better hidden.

As time passed, Slovakia's corruption has diminished to western levels. When the dust of this war settles, Ukraine will go through a similar process.

But we need to deal with corruption a lot more--and I don't think we can get there with western democracy with political parties needing money to win elections.

As well, Ukraine will have go through a big round of IMF funding to get its economy kicking again. Wealthy Ukrainians and wealthy westerners will find ways to skim the system and leave average Ukrainians holding the debt. We so much need a different way.

Anyways, this article is a great summary of Ukraine's post-independence history. I hope the pacifists read it so they can understand what Ukrainians are fighting for.