Ukraine

From Kaiserreich

Ukraine is a country in East Europe. It borders Russia, White Ruthenia, Romania, Don-Kuban Union and Poland.

History

Following centuries of subjugation under the Russian Empire, Ukraine was liberated following the "Peace of Nations" at Brest-Litovsk. Under German pressures that culminated in a coup by Pavlo Skoropadsky, what initially began as a socialist inspired Ukrainian People’s Republic saw a an inexorable transformation into an authoritarian Hetmanate, which was essentially a mechanism to support the interests of landowners. However, due to unrest at these developments, compromises had to be met and at the end of 1919 Wilhelm Habsburg-Lothringen was accepted as titular King of Ukraine with the name of Vasyl Vyshyvanyi, a new constitution was drafted and the elected legislative Rada was restored. Eventually, Ukraine fell under the Austro-Hungarian sphere of influence, with the King holding the greater power.

However, following the deadlock in the renegotiations of Ausgleich in 1927, Austria-Hungary had to ask Germany's mediation and the price was the transfer of control of Ukraine. While Vasyl Vyshyvanyi remained King of Ukraine, the true power was handed over to Skoropadsky as the Hetman, a Chief Executive position which combined both civil government and military command functions. Since then Ukraine has been transformed (thanks mainly to German investment and favouritism in trading arrangements) into an agricultural giant.

However, the lack of representative government and the increasingly desperate position of the masses in relation to the rich has lead to a rapidly rising Social Democratic movement, which shows increasing signs of radicalization under the inspiration of the Socialist government in Georgia. This internal threat combined with the dangers posed by ambitious states on her frontiers has lead many observers to doubt Ukraine’s ability it to survive the coming years.