but it wasn't quite so simple for ukraine the truth is ukraine has never been a united country. when world war two broke out a large part of western ukraine's population welcomed the german soldiers as liberators from the recently forced upon them soviet rule and openly collaborated with the germans. the real scale of collaboration was not announced for many years after the war but we now know that whole divisions and battalions were formed by ukrainian collaborators such as s.s. c. and knock to go and roll into battalions. just in the beginning of the war more than eighty thousand people from college cina region voluntarily enrolled into division s.s. galad seen in a month and a half notorious for their extreme cruelty towards the polish jewish and russian people on the territory of ukraine. members of these military groups came mostly from the organization of ukrainian nationalists b.-o. un founded in one nine hundred twenty nine this organization had an ultimate goal of creating an ethnically pure independent ukraine and considered terror an acceptable tool for achieving thei

ukraine. it's an ancient and proud land. with a rich history filled with much beauty heroism and sacrifice. ukraine is a border land. a place where east meets west. this is the flag of ukraine the blue represents the sky the gold its seemingly endless fields of wheat. ukraine is a prize many have sought. and much blood spilled in the quest to possess it. ukraine has been the pathway for western powers as they attempted to conquer the east. in world war one. and world war two. and every time the ukrainian people ended up paying the highest price for these grand games of power. history doesn't repeat but it surely rhymes said mark twain. if one looks closely at the history of ukraine one will notice many rhymes. being surrounded by stronger powers ukraine has needed a lot of cunning to survive and the art they truly mastered with time is the art of changing sides. in the middle of the seventeenth century ukrainian leader dunn who. broke a truce agreement made with poland siding more powerful russia. just over fifty years later

western ukraine was. last ukrainian region held by the germans finally being liberated in october of one nine hundred forty four. bands continued to wage their guerrilla war against the soviet regime carrying out bloody raids on ukrainian villages and towns and leaving behind chaos and casualties. this war went on until the middle of the one nine hundred fifty s. when the last collaborators worried on may seventh one thousand nine hundred forty five germany unconditionally surrendered to the allies ukraine remained a part of the soviet union. so. the peace after the second world war was short lived. the united states and the soviet union nations who allied together along with england to defeat the nazis tragically became foes as the cold war began. i do think the numbers mean something they've matter the u.s. has over one trillion dollars in debt more than ten white collar crime happened the day. eighty five percent of global wealth he longs to be ultra rich eight point six percent world market thirty per

a russian invasion in ukraine russia could now be on the verge of invading ukraine but strong words state only in the media the ukrainian authorities never announced a war like situation why i.m.f. cannot give money to countries engaged in ongoing war that's rope. when you go to your show will go to geneva too much money was already invested in ukraine to stop halfway had invested over five billion dollars to assist. ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic train. starts in a city in the world it will slowly new democracy just. some of them but obviously the funds had to keep coming and the conflict had to keep going. and more bloody and deadly was all you've shown me. as parties from both sides were using more sophisticated and lethal weapons. that's why you know. through a new deal. you know it's really kind of. the world seemed too busy welcoming this new democracy in kiev. to notice what was being done as it spread its wings over the country. many in southern ukraine had been viewing the revolution with concern. and an anti mind on movem

and democratic ukraine. in a city. that will slowly new democracy just. some of them but obviously the funds had to keep coming and the conflict had to keep going to. get more bloody and deadly. so they see. as parties from both sides were using more sophisticated and lethal weapons. to deal. you know. the world seemed too busy welcoming this new democracy in kiev. to notice what was being done as it spread its wings over the country. many in southern ukraine had been viewing the revolution with concern. early january two thousand and fourteen the protesters set up their camp in front of the trade union house a building which would soon become a monument to a massacre of its own it's difficult to overestimate the importance of odessa it is strategically located on the black sea and it's ukraine's largest seaport it's not surprising that ukraine's new authorities were watching the situation unfolding there with growing alarm. more and more of odessa as people were joining the anti my don movement at the same

many in southern ukraine had been viewing the revolution with concern. i and an anti mind on movement formed in the city of odessa in early january two thousand and fourteen the protesters set up their camp in front of the trade union house a building which would soon become a monument to a massacre of its own it's difficult to overestimate the importance of odessa it is strategically located on the black sea and it's ukraine's largest seaport it's not surprising that ukraine's new authorities were watching the situation unfolding there with growing along arm. more and more of odessa as people were joining the anti my don movement at the same time as events in eastern ukraine were heating up . the new ukrainian government didn't have the power to wage war on too many fronts if odessa were to join the growing uprising in the eastern regions it would seriously complicate the situation. this rebellion had to be extinguished immediately and at any cost and that cost was high. on may second two thousand and fourteen soccer fans flocked to the center of odessa

the parliament of ukraine consists of four hundred fifty deputies the constitution of ukraine requires at least a three fourths majority to vote in other words three hundred thirty eight votes in favor of the impeachment but only three hundred twenty eight deputies voted yes. the u.s. state department i mean almost immediately said this was a legitimate government and that was part of this effort to get regime change instead of trying to find some way to revive the for going twenty first agreement where maybe you could bring back in a titular way that became not a possibility anymore then you had eastern ukraine resisting crimea wanting to break away and things rapidly escalating. voters will decide sunday whether they'll leave ukraine and join russia to campaign with the slogan together with russia has the backing of moscow the crimea situation the referendum is also happening during this period very quickly. but it. was through it. that the new. crimean authorities sensing the mood of the populace fully supported victory on the covert his decision to postpone the two thousand and thi

ambassador to ukraine geoffrey pyatt. private chats between top u.s. diplomats was leaked. you know what he. i think. probably. had this remarkable phone call. of the u.s. government apparently talking about a coup or how they were playing to restructure the government of ukraine. exactly i'm not saying the whole u.s. government feels that way the there is there is division on this but the neo conservative element wants very much to change the strategic dynamic in eastern europe. people and they've been at this for a long time they came in around the issue of propaganda they studied how to create hot buttons for the american people they had this experience when they were getting the american people to get excited about central america back in the one nine hundred eighty s. . and they've been applying those same strategy ever since they were dedicated to achieving their goals they still want to get rid of certain governments they want a regime change in syria for instance regime change in iran they're very skilled at this and they have a lot of allies now inside the news med

set up a foundation in ukraine before ukraine became independent of. and the foundation this me i'm functioning ever since and an important part time events now. i like criticism but it must be my way. to see any evidence of u.s. involvement if you feel the presence of the us just to me i stammered really put a statement in there said you know english thought the me and live just goes on but it is. just. the way done deals roll up it's given you know what i need to near order honey but i mean all this shit as we have with us some of it you see i'm with the true we did it in the way that we. were members of congress were visiting ukraine during that period most famously congressman john mccain so some of the people who were challenging their government their elected government at that point were were being told by a senior u.s. official a person ran for president in a top official in the u.s. congress that the u.s. was with them and senator john mccain and it's always a pleasure to be back in ukraine senator mccain was in a sense giving the people in th

channels went on the air and suddenly became stunningly popular in ukraine spill no t.v. november twenty first. if there were twenty seconds. and a special t.v. or twenty four directly from opposition protest these channels went viral. he was still playing your muscle with much of his thoughts below which slug let's go on the other. side you let me have them superfluid you. believe. me young noble opening up of school six that only use the euro to just wait for a while when you know. you could. do to what machine year when you just don't think for you months like a miller was do you still see love when you think the liberals the new socialist all the ships. are within you to be a mystery in the world for. the conclusion of the same each and then i mean are you calling. him. neo fascist demonic and use what's. good what's a church what if there was. a greasy what. i . mean you stole the nobody in your muscle to go by with her need to look at the. other one up with. her and you truly are. opposed to clearing the prism of what's better which is long lithium you business we a

the delivery of gas in january mon and to punish ukraine to punish ukraine yes but fortunately. or unfortunately you could feel that stop in germany as well and your chancellor immediately complained and putin must must have. forced to open again with the new gas pipeline in the baltics directly from russia to germany he could you could promise to deliver all the gas needed to to germany and he could punish his enemies in poland and ukraine and in the baltic. gas will increasingly replace very important for germany gas cruzan to replace coal to make electricity to help reduce the c o two targets was it a wise move to get out of nuclear or did that make us more dependent on russia briefly is it really made you dependent on russia and on the other hand signing that contract with russia not free will also while a paris agreement that you signed and this is a very very bad story for germany nothing thank you very much since whole scott you're welcome. now to some of today's other business headlines around the world. british lawmakers have slammed facebook for data abuse of parliamen

one has to remember ukraine ukraine's last struggle armed struggle for independence was a after the first world war. all intimate so it's very rather sort of that was germany the russian occupation the soviet occupation the german occupation then stalin's occupation so that was under the carpet now again sort of the countries put on the table and yet entity the history is put on the table and reaming gald world starts when you say the process. begin this process is it over but are we looking at a permanent loss of crimea and are we looking at a permanent presence of russia in eastern ukraine if there are villages where people live every day with the sense in the threat of being invaded by russia. of the threats will go away. didio cooperation will last probably very long once the end state of that is is in the crystal ball. countries need very long time for independence they got it finally but it takes some time. who is calling the shots more in this game of history if you will is it putin or is it poor shrink. it's the ukrainians i don't know how long poroshenko last using will definitel

the problem is we don't see the end of the final product feet of of ukraine that is the ukraine of of its state now which is still very transitional i mean there have been progress through the house being shifts in the country you have a different mood to different generations. ukraine at some places before twenty fourteen you saw you were in receive the soviet union the mindset of people was still very soviet that has completely changed the problem is that it's still. still highly dysfunctional some old habits especially in the west it's your sect you have on reform sports the still do trouble. what about the consequences of what happened there at the my don we have. the russian presence in eastern ukraine we have the loss of crimea. yes. but on the other hand the war the aggression that the country faced sort of put people together. what makes a ukrainian that was a very fuzzy concept i don't say that it was so complete is split between pro western and for russian people because very few people had actually concepts about europe with us europe mean and what does russia to me through

ukraine fighting to survive. its troops take us to the front line where they're battling russian-backed separatists. >> russian made? >> yep. >> reporter: we sprint across open ground and into trench warfare, an extraordinary vision of world war i in today's europe. ukraine cut in two. more than 2,000 killed along this line last year. in the ukrainian sniper's nest, the enemy's not far. >> this is a war in very close quarters they're near snipers and the russian snipers are just 300 yards away. these are the mill at that points they're fighting from two brickaway provinces backed by russia. the u.s. says 2,000 russian troops are leading them. >> all russian officers? russian commanders? >> yeah. >> reporter: a five-year war almost forgotten by the world. they worry russian troops will invade. >> it's my country. it's my earth. it's mine. i born on this place. >> you don't want to live under russian rule. >> no. >> never? >> never. >> reporter: this is the front line not just between the ukrainian army and russian

ukraine a parting of the ways. but we begin this week in israel since one nine hundred fifty eight an organization designed to promote peace has been working hard to bring together young germans and survivors of the holocaust. marianne and come on both born ninety eight years ago in berlin once a week she's visited by. the young german is doing a volunteer year in israel and. the organization action be conservation service for peace has been bringing together young germans and holocaust survivors for use the conversations are the most important part of the and counter maryellen kalman witnessed the rise of the nazis in berlin in the one nine hundred thirty s. when she was a teenager. is informed it didn't happen all at once but from month to month there were new things that jews were no longer allowed to do is that for people would ask themselves are things were really that bad that they should leave and they decided to stay a bit longer and my family was one of those which stayed up until one nine hundred thirty n

ukraine is a prize many have.

ukraine's navy now drilling for possible confrontation. fearing russia will attack at sea. as it did last year, ramming and seizing ukrainian ships. arresting two dozen sailors who are still in a russian jail. it's a conflict on land, too. ukraine's army took us to a frontline war where they're battling russian-backed separatists. >> all russian officers? russian commanders? >> oh, yeah. >> reporter: it's a killing ground. trench warfare that's claimed 13,000 lives. russian snipers, they told me, just 300 yards away. a december cease-fire dead. this is a cease-fire in name only. broken thousands of times along this front line every week. the trump administration supplies weapons to ukraine. the u.s. now preparing new sanctions to a. this the main flashpoint between russia and the west, an almost forgotten war with deadly potential. bill neely, nbc news in eastern ukraine. >>> returning back home to the wave of women shaking up american politics. and friends has teamed up to make history. nbc's kristen dalgren has their story. >> reporter: in denver, colorado, a major shakeu

crimean peninsula the conflict in eastern ukraine began with russian support so basically most of ukraine's modern recent history really takes its beginnings from those events five years ago so how do people there feel about what's been accomplished in the past five years as we heard from victoria in your report change is coming she said but perhaps not fast enough to what extent is a view shared by others. i'm rich that's something you hear time and time again there is definitely a weariness obviously you know the war in eastern ukraine has been going on for five years now people's standard of living is still lower than it was before the revolution and people are still waiting for tangible proof that these reforms really are going to going to improve their lives they haven't seen real high profile convictions of people involved in top corruption they have seen a lot of reform activity but still most of it is kind of abstract the moment for individuals trying to get by as a good look at a hundred people lost their lives during the my don protest which you described as a turning point for th

and that begins with ukraine. as tom mentioned the grand havana meeting at the cigar bar is especially suspicious because of its unusual timing in the summer of 2016. remember, it came after it was announced in june of 2016 that russia had hacked the dnc. it came after wikileaks released the hacked e-mails. it came after trump asked for e-mails from russia about hillary clinton. >> by the way, they hacked, they probably have her 33,000 e-mails. i hope they do. they probably have her 33,000 e-mails that she lost and deleted. because you would see some beauties there. let's see. >> it would be interesting to see. i will tell you this. russia, if you're listening, i hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing. >> russia, if you're listening, let's get in bed together politically. then just two days before manafort's meeting, trump suggested the territory of crimea should be part of russia. he is selling them the deal. here he goes. >> you know, the people of crimea, from what i've heard, would rather

interesting to ukraine and shut the russians are sending tanks against us now killing our children and grandchildren here we don't want the russians here no way. we have a ukrainian church a church that's truly independent of russia a country that's attacking us we're not praying for their soldiers anymore father said he refuses to accept that these changes are permanent and is fighting to bring his parishioners back in from the cold. i hope the people will eventually understand what they've done repent and return to the fold of the true church for the moment at least that seems unlikely what began as an argument about bricks and mortar now threatens to turn into a long lasting division in this community. well he once was known in india as the king of good times famous for his lavish lifestyle and now billionaire business tycoon v.j. malya except to return home to face charges of money laundering and fraud this after monday's decision by the u.k.'s home secretary to approve an order for his extradition. this is the man the indian government has been trying to get its hands on for two y

inside then you present father all ages needing praise and ukraine rather than old slave owning your cake church language used by the moscow patriarchate was. or it's a year for war he proudly shows the congregation a copy of the official charter issued by paycheck but union stumble recognizing the independence of ukraine your church it's something many here have been waiting for since ukraine going independent to me decades ago the symbol of the home of the most is all about the congregation they have decided which church they want to belong to the majority has made its choice i think the others will be back with those very soon. made the will has made by we want to talk to god in ukrainian not in any other language we want to ukrainian priest in ukraine in church the russians are sending tanks against us killing our children and grandchildren here we don't want the russians here no way here at the bottom we have a ukrainian church a church that's truly independent of russia a country that's attacking us we're not praying for their soldiers anymore father said he refuses to accept t

so ukraine's really have seen five years of war and now with an election coming up in a few weeks time this is really a child's stake stock and see where the country's come now we had victoria you know reports say a change has come in the last five years but perhaps not fast enough to what extent is a view shared by others that. there's certainly weariness one thing that's important to remember is that given that certainty ukraine is seen in the last years the people's standard living has fallen dramatically it still hasn't recovered to pre-revolutionary levels that something that's very frustrating to struggling to make ends meet there's a lot of reforms going on but most of those will take a long time to refill to down and to have an effect on people's everyday lives and one thing that lots of people are angry about is the lack of change lack of clear achievements in fighting top level corruption so far no really big fish have gone to jail having said that there is very little public appetite for reversing. effects of the my dad was very few people calling for close ties to russia so

with ukraine. like many open source researchers curial publishes his investigative work on the felling cat blog a network that became famous for tracking this military convoy. killing can't prove that just two days before the downing of passenger flight m h seventeen it had headed to the suspected launch site with a russian v u k three thirty two a mobile missile system. all. the more you'll reach and you could say that my hobby computer games has prepared me for this it was during investigations the process is very similar you put the pieces of the puzzle together at the gerrish that all the details might want. general picture and then you walk from that. you know there's going to be fun and everything feel everything. they have and have it. has a lot of but. a lot of that you can have it over and over when russia became directly involved in the war in syria curial expanded his investigation to the middle east. but. here. here it is. about cluster bombs eject sub munitions just before impact to ef

nick calio they're reporting from ukraine now the red carpet action is vax the sixty ninth of berlin film festival is kicking off and i'm joined by my colleague charlotte shell so phil and david leavitt's down at berlin's the potsdamer platz hi guys what's going on behind you. halo was the bricks i think over here the name of it is the opening night of the international film festival and this is the first ten yet that's the say part of the world premiere at the film the kind of strange it and i don't know if you can see behind me but the crowd is going wild or not but it does about them and directing you to take to the red carpet any minute now and it will just it's not just then we've got stars and directors from around the world this is sort of a who's who of european cinema we saw the german director fighting in iraq you might say i came we saw the finished director cars monte we even saw andie macdowell so it goes as far as hollywood and there are stories here from china from all around the world this is what the belly knowledge is all about it brings together the best of europea

they've always wanted to take back as much as ukraine as possible. it's a key part of greater russia. what we also know before the 2016 election is that two men, who is ukrainian parliamentarian who is the go between michael cohen and russian investors on the trump moscow talks approached with a peace plan where they had specific details. >> that's the way piece communists do it. >> i spoke earlier today with a person who had direct knowledge of that plan who said one of the things that was important piece of it was limited nato's access to ukraine. making it so the west had less of a military footprint where the world was trying to expand. >> to your point about the difficulty in charges these cases s cases, it's possible this theory may never manifest in an indictment but we might see it laid out as the connective tissue in a mueller report that may or may not be publicly released but never have someone charged in direction connection with this theory even fp they are. >> it always looked like the theory that made sense. trump long appeared willing

the trump administration supplies weapons to ukraine. thu.s. now preparing new sanctions to punish russia. this the main flashpoint between russia and the west, an almost forgotten war with deadly potential. n billeely, nbc news in eastern ukraine. >>> returning back home to the wave of women shaking up american politics. ine olorado one group of fem lawmakers and friends has teamed up to make history.is nbc's ten dalgren has their story. >> reporter: in denver, colorado, a major shakeup in state government may be thanks to some good old-fashioned inrlfriends. >> do you want anyto drink? >> reporter: kerry donovan. tammy story.. faith wint britney peterson. jesse danielsen. >> showed up in this awesome black dress -- >> reporter: now known as the fab five. friends first who all became state senators, helping flip the chamber to a first in the nation female-led majority. >> we knew that the success of one of us depended on all of us making it into the senate. and we madit. and we made it. >> we came into these races knowing that we were in the f