I agree on both statements. I wish that there would have been a whole lot more talking in the last 20 years so that there wouldn't be shooting now.

The situation is anything but simple. The last time I was in Ukraine, and this is already 10 years ago, the ethnic Russians were feeling very oppressed by the Ukrainians. Clearly the feeling of oppression by Russia is felt by many Ukrainians who want to join the EU, and then there are Ukrainians who want to be completely indpendent.

I certainly don't claim to know what the "right" answer is. I do know that violence makes finding a solution more difficult by the day. Horrible and sad.