Another,Regarding industry of Belarus. Unlike Guardian I don't think that Belarusian people are inferior and I am sure that they can compete with the the Western countries. Many products can and will compete, especially after investments from other nations (idea that some Western company will buy some Belarusan industry only to close the competitor is beyond absurd. ) Some will die, that's true. But they deserve to die, life support doesn't work in economics.
On the subject of Ukraine - of course EU integration is the future. In the next few years though the average standard of life could have taken a heavy hit if Ukraine joined now on the proposed conditions. In part - because some socially significant large businesses (like Wales coal industry for different reasons) would immediately collapse due to European concurrency and in large parts - because of severing some economic ties with Russia.
Average standard of life is low enough here. It's hard to hit it more. What is more important, standard of life it's not money. Sandard of life is not only money, it's rights. It's justice system. It's ability to buy something at fair price (Somehow I dislike paying several times more for a car than Europeans, because some bastards want to keep selling crap that Ukrainian Automobile Industry produces and hypocritically scream about workplaces )
Now - would you really blame Russia for acting selfishly and doing what is best (short term) for its own economy?
Yes, I will. Because it's not about economy and everyone knows that. Because some people have self respect and dislike when neighboring countries order you around with barely legal trade wars, closing borders, when their border guards intentionally killing fishers of their nation and so on, so on
BTW, I am grateful for Putin's recent actions, number of pro-Russians is declining steadily. Great thing in fact.
Ideally I would like to see talks between EU, Ukraine, Russia and maybe Kazakhstan and Belarus to find a compromise way to gradually join EU (first Ukraine, then - Russia, whether Belarus or Kazakhstan would even want to fully join is an open question)
Russia in EU makes me smile) Even for a dream European city of Vladivostok sounds sooo great... Truth is that no one even speaks about joining EU, association is an absolutely different thing. Ukraine in EU is impossible for the next twenty years at the very least, but we did had a chance for association this year, with all great long term economical and political benefits it would give. Instead Russia won and we'll keep lagging behind the civilization few more years. Still with people on the Streets I am optimistic. No, current protests will fail to reach it's goals, but I see potential for changes, I see enough people that have determination to change the country, who have right goals