Ukraine has a unique situation in which older people are beginning to outnumber younger people. The average age of the population is increasing.
And?
Also please provide the relevant population data to support your claim and the uniqueness of situation. Unique demographics sounds interesting.
People are underestimating one serious factor. Russia doesn't not need the popular support of the people.
Russia doesn't even have the popular support of the people - and that was before their invasion which won't add popularity points. That's why they had to install their new PM in Crimea. His party Russian Unity got whopping 4% of the vote in the last election, and apparently he's a shady character with background in organized crime.
It's unlikely that Russia would militarily invade Eastern Ukraine. What they're doing is creating political instability with the aim of weakening the Kyiv government and having more political influence in the east, not annexing the East.
It's also unlikely that any part of Eastern Ukraine would secede to Russia. Such proposition does not have popular support there and it's a minority opinion. In order to annex regions in the east Russia would have to invade them first.
Right now Ukraine operates under a unitary system. It would seem that one apparent impact of the Ukraine crisis is that eastern Ukraine is demanding greater autonomy from Kiev, including the right to select their own governors. Right now, Ukraine has a political system where the President has the right to personally select governors.
That was the Yanukovich constitution, the one he abused to consolidate powers to himself. One of the most important objectives of Maidan opposition was undoing Yanukovich's changes to constitution and restoring the 2004 constitution with more democratic powers. And the parliament voted for the constitutional change. The president's powers have been diminished and moved to the parliament.
It's the parliament that selects the PM, the government, and the regional governors.
Whatever the distrust of eastern Ukrainians for Russia, it would seem that they share equal distrust of Kiev. This is not to say that separatism will occur, but
that autonomy movements are more likely to become important over time.
Yep, there may very well be developments in the power balance between Kyiv and regional governments. That needs constitutional changes and I don't think that the parliament would make such changes before the May election. But yes, over time, perhaps.
ETA: Just wanted to add that not much of this is currently very important - what's relevant ATM is the diplomatic game happening elsewhere. Of utmost importance is having Russia engaged in diplomacy and dialogue.
What needs to happen: having Russia to agree to OSCE participation. Won't happen easily, but is the best path available.
Today the EU national leaders meet. Very important meeting. Some sanctions would be in order such as Visa restrictions and suspending some co-operation. But I hope they do not impose economic sanctions, and tone down the sanctions rhetorics a bit. Russia does not respond well if feels left alone and threatened.
