Amid the tragedy, euphoria and confusion in Ukraine, the risks of renewed confrontation between Russia and the west are rising. An east-west struggle over the fate of Ukraine would be a tragedy for the country – increasing the risks of civil war and partition. But while a brutal arm-wrestling match between the Kremlin and the west – with Ukraine as the prize – is a distinct possibility, it is absolutely not in the interests of Russia or the west. On the contrary, the Russians, Europeans and Americans have a common interest in preserving Ukraine as a unified country that avoids civil war and bankruptcy.
最近烏克蘭局勢一波三折，先是爆發流血沖突，接著傳出了令人興奮的消息，繼而又令人困惑，目前俄羅斯與西方爆發新的對抗的風險正在上升。倘若圍繞烏克蘭命運爆發東西方角力，對烏克蘭來說將是一場悲劇——它將增加該國爆發內戰和分裂的風險。但是盡管俄羅斯很有可能與西方國家展開激烈的角力（烏克蘭是戰利品），但這絕對不符合俄羅斯或者西方的利益。相反，避免烏克蘭爆發內戰和破產，維持其國家統一，符合俄羅斯人、歐洲人和美國人的共同利益。