By Robbie Butler
One can only imagine what life is like in Ukraine today. The events of the past three weeks have been truly shocking and demonstrate how fragile peace in Europe can be. Let's not forget, two European civil wars in the 20th century ended in global conflict. Maybe this is the reason why events in Ukraine are striking such a cord with so many ordinary Europeans.
Sport also has a role to play. Yesterday West Ham's Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko scored in the Premier League against Aston Villa. Various other Ukrainian players also play in the Premier League. They remind us how interconnected the European continent now is.
And the links go even further. Ukraine has been very much central to European football over the past decade or so. Shakhtar Donetsk won the Europa League in 2008/09, while Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were defeated in the final in 2014/15.
It is not yet 4 years since Liverpool played in Ukraine. Supporters travelled in their thousands to the Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex in Kyiv to see the Champions League Final versus Real Madrid. Gareth Bale and Loris Karius will be remembered, for very different reasons, on the night. One can again, only imagine what it must be like around this stadium today.
And just 10 years ago, Ukraine were about to co-host Euro 2012 with Poland. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk all hosted games.
England were defeated by Italy on penalties in the Quarter Finals in Kyiv. That Pirlo chip on Joe Hart comes to mind. Spain would later demolish the Italian's in the final in the same stadium. So on the night of the 1st of July 2012, Spain and Read Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy over his head into the night sky of Kyiv.
One can only imagine what life is like in Ukraine today. The events of the past three weeks have been truly shocking and demonstrate how fragile peace in Europe can be. Let's not forget, two European civil wars in the 20th century ended in global conflict. Maybe this is the reason why events in Ukraine are striking such a cord with so many ordinary Europeans.
Sport also has a role to play. Yesterday West Ham's Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko scored in the Premier League against Aston Villa. Various other Ukrainian players also play in the Premier League. They remind us how interconnected the European continent now is.
And the links go even further. Ukraine has been very much central to European football over the past decade or so. Shakhtar Donetsk won the Europa League in 2008/09, while Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were defeated in the final in 2014/15.
It is not yet 4 years since Liverpool played in Ukraine. Supporters travelled in their thousands to the Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex in Kyiv to see the Champions League Final versus Real Madrid. Gareth Bale and Loris Karius will be remembered, for very different reasons, on the night. One can again, only imagine what it must be like around this stadium today.
And just 10 years ago, Ukraine were about to co-host Euro 2012 with Poland. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk all hosted games.
England were defeated by Italy on penalties in the Quarter Finals in Kyiv. That Pirlo chip on Joe Hart comes to mind. Spain would later demolish the Italian's in the final in the same stadium. So on the night of the 1st of July 2012, Spain and Read Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy over his head into the night sky of Kyiv.
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