So what can you see behind the Ukrainian flag?
The latest events and the enfolding events as you read these lines on the future of Ukraine will be at best sour if logic doesn’t prevail; John Faraclas writes:
As we have said in our shipping market reports and as I have personally long ago mentioned on the energy jargon and other issues, restrain is the name of the game. But will all Ukrainians stay put? This is the big question. There are dangers looping in the background and the country is not only searching for a leader, is searching for transparent ministers to form a unity government for the next step forward. If things don’t go well, expect the unexpected and vice versa!
Despite what happens in Europe, I mean within Europe and in particular the European Union, Europe is the most powerful block in the World on any level and field you wish to compare this mighty continent with the rest. If some elements within Europe leave aside their greediness for power show-off, Europe will sooner than expected thrive. It is both for the Ukrainian and European interests that this crisis calm down; it is also in the interests of the ultra-powerful Russia that this crisis evaporates: there is certainly a way, you need two in a tango, never forget this. The USA should use the maxim: the best argument is to avoid the argument – you dead well know what I mean. Having said all this above, I guess one should not write-off Putinism, a force which for sure will react in the most enviable way. For those accusing Russia’s patrimony stance, it is best to see their own patrimonial skeletons in their cupboard; you see on these issues one has to be totally impartial, and this medium is.
London traffic at a standstill off Knightbridge
For the shipping world, Ukraine is a very important country. It has always been the granary of the world and if the Bolsheviks had lost it (I mean the October Revolution) would have continued to date to be the number one exporter in very large volumes. Moreover due to the prevailing industrial climate, before, during and after the Russian revolution, the shipyards had thrived. Many foreign shipowners have chosen Ukrainian shipyards to build commercial ships, the Greeks being by far the number one client. Last week and given the social upturn the prices of corn have risen, but the exports continued… We shall see what happens next. All in all, Ukraine is a great country, but inevitable in the fault line of many issues in this part of the world.
The Greeks know best. Who can forget the Russian Expansion and the Tsarina’s “Euxine Pontus”, dream? Russia was driving a way through to the south. In the fifty years between Peter the Great’s ill-fated campaign on the river Prut in 1711 (when he was forced to retreat from the Sea of Azov, which he has captured in 1696 and the drawing of the “Greek Plan” by Catherine the Great 1762-1796, the great Orthodox power has incorporated the Sea of Azov, the Crimea and the Ukraine within its domain, and the conquest of northeast Moldavia was imminent. The Tsarina dreamt of Driving the Turks out of Europe, of extending her sovereignty to Georgia and Pontos and the re-establishing the Greek Empire – she had in fact baptised her grandson Constantine. Prince Potemkin was entrusted with the implementation of the first phase of the plan. He commissioned the building of the Black Sea fleet and founded the first Maritime cities of the South. These “Mediterranean” ports were given names of ancient Greek cities (Odessa, Eupatoria) and primarily of Byzantine ones (Cherson, Sebastopol, Theodosia, Sympheropol). Since this famous plan was directly connected with centuries-long tradition of Greeks in the Euxine Pontus – their nautical skills, mercantile abilities, familiarity with urban life, and experience in organisation and administration – Russia was in need of Greek settlers, both for new ports and her new territories. Every Greek – humble farmer or prosperous merchant, shipwright or stone mason – was welcomed. I have mentioned the above as unfortunately or fortunately history repeats itself – never forget this.
Having a Chian* family presence in this area for 397 uninterrupted years, with family offices in Marioupol (today Ukrainian), Taganrong (today Russian), in the same sea, the Sea of Azov, Rostov-na-Donu and other places involved with shipping and trade, and tourism, we know best what “environment” we are talking about; a very difficult one. Lastly don’t forget the capital of Greek Revolution during the Greek War of Independence: Odessa…
Will be on guard watching the latest developments and here in London given the mobilization of Ukrainians a lot of news come into surface. Watch the live impromptu video and you will get the message.
Last thing, inevitably the winner** takes them all….
*Greek Island of Chios
**I will leave you with this big guessing of who will be the final winner…
