🌍 Mapping 13 Countries Inside Ukraine 🇺🇦: A Fascinating Thought Experiment! 🌍
Ever wondered how big Ukraine really is? Let's play a game of geopolitical Tetris! 🎮 📍 Countries Inside Ukraine's Borders 📍
🇦🇱 Albania finds its place in the Northwest, specifically in Volhynia.
Historical Note: Like Ukraine, Albania also struggled for its independence and faced various invasions.
2. 🇨🇿 Czechia snugly fits in the West, in the regions of Galicia-Podolia.
Did You Know?: Both the Czech Republic and Ukraine are Slavic countries with historical ties that span over a thousand years. They have shared moments of solidarity, especially during the Velvet Revolution and Ukraine's own struggle for democracy. The Czech civil society has often been supportive of Ukraine's European aspirations, and both nations have a rich folklore tradition.
3. 🇸🇮 Slovenia nestles in the Southwest, in Transcarpathia.
Cultural Insight: Slovenia and Ukraine share a love for mountainous landscapes.
4. 🇦🇹 Austria takes its spot in the North, covering areas like Polesia, Kyiv, and Siveria. Historical Insight: the Austrian Empire once controlled the region of Galicia, which is now part of modern-day Ukraine. The Austrian rule has left a lasting impact on the culture and architecture of the region.
5. 🇸🇰 Slovakia finds its home right in the Center of Ukraine.
Historical Ties: Slovakia and Ukraine share a border and have a complex history of interaction.
6. 🇷🇸 Serbia is located in the Black Sea Coast and Zaporizhzhia region.
Conflict Legacy and External Influence: Both countries have recent histories of conflict and are still dealing with its aftermath. Russia often leverages shared historical narratives to influence Serbian politics, further complicating Serbia's geopolitical stance.
7. 🇲🇪 Montenegro fits into Southern Bessarabia/Budjak.
Tourism Angle: Montenegro is a tourism gem, something Ukraine is aspiring to become.
8-9. 🇨🇾 Cyprus and 🇹🇷 Northern Cyprus share the southern part of Kherson region.
Political Intrigue: The division of Cyprus into two entities echoes Ukraine's own territorial issues.
10. 🇭🇺 Hungary is situated in the East, covering Poltava region and Sloboda Ukraine.
Historical and Current Ties: Hungary ruled over Transcarpathia for centuries, a region primarily inhabited by Ukrainians. During its rule, Hungary implemented policies aimed at assimilating the local population. Even today, Hungarian politicians occasionally make territorial claims against Ukraine and other neighboring countries.
11-12. 🇮🇱 Israel and 🇵🇸 Palestine are located in the Azov Sea region.
Historical Trauma: Prior to World War II, Ukraine had one of the largest Jewish populations in the world. In many cities, Jews made up between 20% to 50% of the population. Tragically, most were exterminated by German Nazis during the Holocaust, with estimates suggesting that around 1.5 million Ukrainian Jews were killed.
13. 🇦🇲 Armenia finds its place in Crimea.
Historical Trauma: Both Ukraine and Armenia have faced historical tragedies, including genocides and wars.
📊 By the Numbers 📊
Total Area: 511,000 km² (That's 92,000 km² less than Ukraine! Enough room left for Switzerland and Denmark 🇨🇭🇩🇰)
Population: 66.1 million (That's 42% more than Ukraine! 🤯)
Wealth: Only Austria 🇦🇹 and Israel 🇮🇱 are considered wealthy. The rest range from average to poor.
GDP: A staggering $1.9 trillion (nominal) and $2.8 trillion (PPP), which is 9 times Ukraine's GDP pre-Russian invasion. 💰
🤔 What Does This All Mean? 🤔
All these countries have faced historical challenges similar to Ukraine, especially the scars left by the World Wars. Yet, their paths have diverged significantly, leading to different economic and social outcomes.
💬 Your Thoughts? 💬
What do you think led to such drastic differences? Share your thoughts, theories, or even personal stories related to these countries.