Warmest wishes for a safe, peaceful, and healthful New Year to my faithful readers ...

New Year's tree in the Kyiv, Ukraine, Future European Union, main train station.  Photo credit  (c) Euromaidan pr.  Copyright controlled.

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The Lithuanian central bank forecasts that tomorrow's adoption of the euro will be positive for the nation's economy

Where the Danube River and Delta (Almost) Meets the Dniester River and Delta ... and the Guns of December are far away

With vivid memories of our trip in July 2013.  Map (c) The Economist magazine.  Copyright controlled.
 

Danube Delta - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas.

73 percent of Russians think the government works on behalf of a small elite, while only 3 percent said the government works for the benefit of average people

Moscow, Russian Federation.  December 30, 2014.  (c) Copyright controlled.

Ukraine's central bank has stated the nation's economy experienced its worst year since the Second World War.

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Moscow, Russian Federation.  Photo credit:  (c) Agence France Press.

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President Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus would from now on insist on trading with Russia in dollars or euros rather than roubles

Saint Nicholas Day 2014: Food Chain Opposing Putin's Occupation of Southeastern Ukraine

(c) Copyright controlled via Kyiv Post.

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Now Back To Celebrating The Life And Work Of Beethoven ...

Source:  FactSet.

Mikhail Gorbachev, Why Should Russia's Annexation of Crimea Be Welcomed By The West? Reverse That Illegal Occupation Of The Ukrainian Autonomous Republic Of Crimea!

Economic Undevelopment: "Russians are set to feel a lot poorer, with per capita gross domestic product set to fall from over $14,000 last year, to around $10,000 [slightly less than in Poland]"

 

Russian-inflicted economic destruction in Southeastern Ukraine, December 2014. Photo credits:  (c) Agence France Press via Kyiv Post.  [Polish GDP per person of $10,750 as of December 8, 2014.  World Bank data.]

Morning In America, Forever With Russia, and Other Right-Wing Fantasies

Forever with Russia Rally in Simferopol, Russian-occupied Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Photo credit:  (c) Agence France Press.  Copyright controlled.

European Christmas Truce 2014?



Donetsk, Ukraine, December 2, 2014.
Photo credit:  (c) Agence France Press. Copyright controlled.

First Ukrainian regional office of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development opens in Lviv, Ukraine, Future European Union

 "You should see how many jars of pickles I have this year.  But what about the old folk and poorer families in the city who can't grow their own food?"

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development