Could Ukraine be the next Silicon Valley?

Even among the sordid histories of Eastern Europe, Ukraine is particularly tragic.  In just the 20th century, it was starved by Stalin, decimated by Hitler, subjected to seventy years of incompetent Soviet rule, looted by its own government and, most recently, invaded by Putin.

Ukraine’s situation today remains desperate.   The country is in dire financial straits, dependent on financial assistance from the IMF, US and EU.  Crimea has been annexed, the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk are caught in a frozen conflict and its chief antagonist, Russia, controls its gas supply.