African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1472: Chapter 27: Outbreak of War (Part 2)

For the United Kingdom, one significant reason for the unsatisfactory outcome of World War I was the close relations between the Ottoman Empire and East Africa, which prevented the Allies from completely blocking the Allies’ external trade routes.

As for Germany, before World War I, Germany actively courted the Ottoman Empire and built the Baghdad Railway. In fact, the Ottoman Empire had already become Germany’s economic colony before the war, so Germany did not want East Africa to reap the fruits of its labor.

Of course, the intrigue and conflict between imperialist countries were not very important to Doroshenko. The relationship between East Africa and Ukraine was already mediocre, especially with East Africa’s support for Tsarist Russia’s overseas exile, which made the Ukrainian government feel uneasy.

Marshal Doroshenko continued: ”With the support of Germany, Austria, and other countries, as long as we can withstand the initial military pressure from Russia and demonstrate our value, we can receive more military aid.”

”Especially in the competitive situation among countries like Poland, whoever can show greater combat strength can obtain more silver, weapons, and ammunition.”

Indeed, Poland is Ukraine’s biggest competitor, as both are countries that consume military aid, and military aid is obviously limited. If Poland receives more, then Ukraine will receive less.

In fact, the Polish government is indeed more martial than Ukraine. Even Ernst had to admire the courage of the Poles, who eagerly initiated small-scale military actions against Russia shortly after independence.

The history of the previous era also proves that, in the matter of opposing Russia, there is no more proactive country than Poland. However, Poland’s aggressive behavior also made the Ukrainian government appear somewhat passive.

Doroshenko said: ”The situation is very clear now. Although the UK, France, Germany, and Austria all support us, we definitely cannot fully trust these Great Powers. After all, the disparity in strength between Ukraine and Russia is too great. Before other countries organize armies to help us resist Russia, we have only one thing to do, which is to hold the Donbass line.”

”Currently, although the Polish government is jumping with joy, this also makes them the most likely primary target for Russian attacks. We absolutely cannot be as blindly arrogant as the Poles.”

Doroshenko’s words also proved one thing: the current attitude of the Ukrainian government towards Russia is mainly focused on passive defense.

Although the Ukrainian government is fully aware that Russia is a deadly enemy of Ukraine, they do not want to confront Russia immediately, especially when all countries are only providing weapons and supplies, helping Ukraine train its army but not sending troops. This makes Ukraine feel very insecure.

The fact is that it is not that the UK, France, Germany, and Austria do not want to send troops, but they are unable to. Each of the Great Powers of Europe, having just experienced World War I, has a high anti-war sentiment domestically and has not yet emerged from the scars of war.

Joining another war would likely trigger considerable public dissatisfaction with the government in each country, thereby shaking the foundations of their rule.

Moreover, the scheming among imperialist countries is also an important influencing factor. After World War I, soldiers from the UK, France, Germany, and Austria could hardly unite to oppose Russian forces.

Just imagining that after battling to the death due to differing camps yesterday, they would change attitudes today and become intimate comrades, such a thing simply cannot happen.

Therefore, support for Ukraine from various countries can only remain in the realm of military aid and cannot truly intervene.

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Moscow.

Ukraine does not wish to confront Russia immediately, but the Russian Labor Party government evidently thinks otherwise, and there is a significant difference in thought from the Ukrainian government.

Although the Russian Labor Party despises Poland as an erratic clown, Vladimir and other high-level members of Russia, from a practical standpoint, are still more inclined to first reclaim Ukraine.

The reason for this is simply the greater importance of Ukraine to Russia, far above that of Poland.

Firstly, Ukraine was an important granary during the Tsarist era, and while Russia’s territory is vast, the majority of it is unfavorable for agricultural development due to climate reasons. Therefore, considering food security, Russia cannot abandon Ukraine.

Secondly, Eastern Ukraine, namely the east bank of the Dnieper River, was previously one of Russia’s important industrial bases, so the Russian government must reclaim this area.

Lastly, Ukraine concerns Russia’s port issues. With the loss of Ukraine, Russia simultaneously lost the vital region of Crimea.

Therefore, from these perspectives, Ukraine’s importance far exceeds that of Poland.

August 21, 1921.

Vladimir held a military meeting in Moscow.

”Currently, regions such as Poland and Ukraine are rapidly being armed under the support of imperialist countries, and our personnel deployed in these regions are already prepared.”

”Therefore, I believe now is a perfect time for us to reclaim Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic regions. Otherwise, in the future, to retrieve these lost lands will cost much more.”

”Now is when the European imperialist countries are at their weakest. After the World War and the European flu, it is impossible for the countries of Europe to directly send massive troops to Ukraine and Poland and other regions.”