After Russia offers more money, there are more protests in Kiev

Kiev, Capital of Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine remains tense and divided:

February 18, 2014

Ukrainian protesters clashed with police Tuesday after being stopped from a march to the Ukrainian parliament building in Kyiv.

Witnesses said protesters threw stones at police after their path was blocked, and police responded with smoke bombs and rubber bullets.

The protesters have been gathering for weeks to call for the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych after he backed off a trade deal with the European Union in November in favor of closer ties with Russia.

On Monday, Russia said it will release an additional $2 billion to Ukraine to support its moribund economy, a move seen as strengthening President Yanukovych’s bid to remain in power.

Officials say the eurobond purchase by Moscow is in addition to the $3 billion it bought late last year. The money is part of a $15 billion loan promised by Russia.

The protests in Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities have spawned widespread media coverage in the West and calls for more democracy in the former Soviet republic.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel – a leading figure in the 28-member EU trade bloc – met Monday with two Ukrainian opposition leaders; boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko and Arseni Yatsenyuk.

Klitschko, writing ahead of the meeting in the German daily Bild, said the opposition was seeking EU support for sanctions against the Yanukovych government and EU help in curbing the powers of the Ukrainian president.

A Merkel spokesman was later quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying the chancellor voiced “sympathy for the legitimate concerns of the Ukrainian people.” But he said Ms. Merkel did not agree with calls for sanctions at this time.

EU and U.S. officials have repeatedly said they are working with the International Monetary Fund on details of an aid package that analysts have described as rivaling or exceeding the Russian bailout deal. But so far no concrete offers have been made public. http://www.voanews.com/content/protesters-police-clash-again-in-kyiv/1853605.html

There are two regions and two clashing attitudes in Ukraine. Perhaps there could be a split there. Both Russia and the European Union are truly interested in Ukraine. Ukrainians, like many others, are impressed with economic interests. The EU is more economically impressive than Russia or Russia’s agreed to Eurasian Union is.

The protestors mainly want to be part of the European Union and the USA seemingly wants to reduce Russian influence. But part of the problem is that the EU and USA are moving slowly, while Russia has taken decisive action. Yet, so have the protestors.

That being said, many in Europe believe that they have their own ‘manifest destiny’ to create a large empire. The EU is already a large empire and likely will get larger officially. Notice the following prophecy:

9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12)

The European Union developed out of a small union of three European nations–Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, originally referred to as Benelux. Ukraine is south and mainly east of the nations that once were part of Benelux–the ‘entity’ that eventually grew into the European Union. So Ukraine, for a while at least, may end up supporting Europe–though that is not certain.

Ukraine is in in a very strategic location. Ukraine is located on the edge of Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. All but the first two and Moldova are currently in the European Union–and Moldova has applied (see Georgia and Moldova sign up to join European Union, Ukraine does not). Reportedly, the name Ukraine means literally “on the edge” and it is on the edge of the European Union as well as Russia’s Eurasian Union.

Despite what will happen with EU expansion, ultimately, at least part of the destruction of the Babylonian European power will come from forces associated with Russia (Jeremiah 50:41-43) and will likely involve Ukraine. Most of the Ukrainians are Eastern or Russian Orthodox, which makes them closer (in professed religion at least) to the Russians that the Western Europeans–though many of the Eastern Europeans have some version of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

There still is a divide in Ukraine. Overall, unless it actually splits, I believe that ultimately Ukraine will side with Russia (see Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future), even though it may support the EU in the future for a time.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?