Here is what I am reading about Ukraine right now.....


I have been following the Crimean protests against NATO (U.S.-Ukrainian military exercise). But I hadn't realized that President Bush was going to visit Ukraine until the visit was canceled.

President George W. Bush’s June 13 visit to Baghdad may have been the top of the news, but his cancelled visit to Kiev, Ukraine, only made the inside pages. The Kiev “postponement,” announced June 8, followed the June 7 announcement that Ukraine had canceled U.S.-Ukrainian military exercises in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula.

From: Ukraine protests chase out Marines

Ukraine is experiencing an illegal immigration problem.

Ukraine has seen an increasing number of illegal immigrants try to cross the country since May 2004, when three countries bordering Ukraine’s westernmost corner - Poland, Slovakia and Hungary - joined the European Union.

In 2004 alone, more than 4,000 illegal immigrants were detained in the west of the country, according to official figures.

From: Ukraine detains 8 illegal Pakistani migrants

I wrote about Ukraine losing to Spain in the World Cup. Ukraine is going to play Saudi Arabia on Monday. World Cup is a double elimination(thanks for the correction Jannie) round-robin for the first stage and single elimination for the second, so if Ukraine loses they are out.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia meet for the first time in Group H action at Hamburg on Monday in a match that both teams must win if they hope to advance.

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Despite being ranked 40 spots below Spain, Ukraine still had had been expected to provide strong resistance

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Instead, Ukraine left the playing field humbled [from playing Spain] 4-0, unable to come up with any concrete reasons for the drubbing but complaining bitterly about the searing heat, which they felt favoured the Spaniards.

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Saudi Arabia, another team that prefers sultry temperatures, is no longer the pushover it was four years ago when it was demolished 8-0 by Germany in the first round.


From: Saudis look to match opening game feat, Ukraine desperate to avoid repeat

Other stories of interest:

Ukraine - Russia's ultimate blackmail victim
Accord to boost ties with Ukraine (ties between Pakistan and Ukraine)
Ukraine''s Orange Revolution Allies Restart Talks After Yushchenko Backs Orange Coalition
Ukrainians brace for more tariff hikes
Ukraine signs WTO-related protocol with Columbia
President of Ukraine meets UK Ambassador Robert Brinkly