Ukraine Should be Compensated for Lost Territories in the South with Land from Belarus.

 

In my previous articles I said that Ukrainian borders are poorly drawn and impede its functioning as independent state. Because of that transfer of southern Ukrainian territories to Russia could be a good thing as residents there do not like Ukraine and prefer being part of Russia or a refugee status in Europe.

However that leaves Ukraine with a lot of territorial losses, which is unfair. However, if not returning land, then how Ukraine can be compensated for the losses in the south.

The answer is either a monetary compensation or a land transfer elsewhere. It can be combination of both too. I do not think Putin is ready for Versalles style reparations to Ukraine for a land he has taken, however payments from Russia to Ukraine are more than appropriate.

The other issue is lands elsewhere. Instead of land in the south where people either defected to Russia or fled to safety of Europe, Ukraine can get lands in the north. Ukrainian border with Belarus is particularly poorly drawn. It is too close to Kyiv and other key cities and therefore makes Ukraine vulnerable from attacks from the north. Moving border further north is therefore a very desirable.

There are even historical precedents for such a change. For example, maps from Russian Civil War era regularly show southern Belarus cities as part of Ukraine. Only during the USSR times these lands were given to Belarus instead. Older maps from Kievan Rus also show principality borders of Volyn, Kyiv and Chernihiv principalities to go much further north than current Ukrainian borders are. Even language maps from 19th century show distribution of Ukrainian language much further north that even Civil War era maps.

Many also show Bilhorod oblast of Russia as part of Ukraine as well. Bilhorod and Kharkiv are close geographically and it would make sense for them to be in the same country: either Russia, Ukraine or even their very own independent state. However, this is a separate question.

Benefits of changing Norther Borders are many.

To begin with this solution would allow Russia to claim victory for the lands in the south and at the same time compensate Ukraine with better lands elsewhere.

Moving border further north would make Kyiv and by extension whole Ukraine much more defensible than current borders are.

Belarus is a rouge Russian puppet state ruled by the last dictator of Europe. He hijacks commercial jets and floods Europe with fake refugees. Most would not be said if he and his state will lose land to Ukrainians. In fact, ending Belarus existence is in the interest of most other nations.

People of Belarus protested continued rule of Lukashenka but he suppressed them with riot police violence. Thus even Belarussians themselves would likely be happy to escape brutal Lukashenka rule by becoming part of Ukraine. Many volunteers from Belarus already fight for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

To that end Ukraine can take much more of Belarus land than old maps show. In fact, Ukraine can annex and absorb it completely or split it with Russia. Poland and Lithuania can get some pieces too. That way everyone will be happy.

All in all it is a clever and creative solution to the problem that will leave many people happier than many other alternatives. It should be seriously considered and implemented.