[Ukr] Bitter Memory

[GingeOrCringe]

Shortly after the MoD's address, two men in black suits and overcoats would approach the United States Embassy in Kyiv. One of them, a man in his mid-to late twenties with a shaved head, seemed less at ease in the business-formal attire than his briefcase-toting counterpart. An observer might guess at a fifteen year difference between them. Both had the mechanical gate so common in soldiers, though they wore absolutely nothing to identify themselves as such.

"My name is Ihor Yavorsky, colleague is Ivan Shevchenko," the more senior of the two would announce. "I'm here to speak with Ambassador Kovalenko. We're not here in any official capacity, but I understand the Ambassador is interested in Ukrainian history. I believe we have information which would be of great personal interest to him."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"I'm sorry, gentlemen," said the security officer at the outside entrance. "But United States Ambassadors do not exactly take in guests off the street. What exactly do you want to tell the ambassador? Are you with the Ukranian government? Do you have any official identification?" she asked.

The security officer, who was neither a DSS Agent nor a Marine Embassy Guard, patiently waited for a response as the two men looked at her through the Plexiglas. Meanwhile, the American Ambassador to Ukraine was inside, reading a book in his office.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Yavorsky nodded compliantly. Obviously a geopolitical-giant like the US would manage its embassies’ security with great sobriety. You'd have to be an idiot to think you could just walk in.

"Yes, of course, it's in my coat," Yavorsky would draw his wallet from an inner pocket, moving slowly so as not to startle the security officer. He'd open it and press it against the Plexiglas. She'd be able to see that Ihor Vladimirovych Yavorsky, age 38, held the rank of Major and was currently working for the Directorate of General Staff in the Ministry of Defense.

Shevchenko would follow the older man’s lead, handing over his ID and holding up a silver badge identifying himself as part of the Militsiya, Ukraine’s national police force. The credentials were real, of course.

“It was actually Minister Kuzmuk who dispatched us here,” Major Yarovsky added, “again this is not formal business. We can arrange an official meeting through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if that’s what your embassy requires. Our goal was to save them the paperwork for what will most likely be a fifteen minute conversation.” He smiled politely as he took out a pen and notepad, “may I have your name? My superiors will likely ask for it if I return to the MoD without speaking to the Ambassador. You know how bureaucrats are.”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

The security officer, who was the 22 year-old daughter of one of the workers at the embassy, blew a pink bubble with the gum she had been chewing, and then popped it. She sighed as the two men kept trying to talk to her. She moved one of the little speakers of her headset away from her right ear and listened to what they were saying. She was listening to the newest album of the "Backstreet Boys" and wasn't happy that she was being disturbed by these two men off the street. She was starting to get use to Ukranian men not leaving her alone. She misunderstood what the man was implying due to his thick accent and rolled her eyes.

"No you can't have my name, I have a boyfriend," she said. She was about to close a small curtain in front of the plexiglass in an attempt to make the men go away, but the other security officer that had been with her came back inside after visiting the lavatory. The other security officer was also a woman, but was in her mid-thirties. She briefly discussed the situation with her counterpart in Spanish, and then looked at the two men through the plexiglass.

"We will send someone out to talk to you," she said. Minutes later, the ambassador's chief of staff, a slim tall man who was a silver fox and had the stoicism of a German, came out in a suit and tie. He was holding a Styrofoam cup with hot coffee in it. He walked up to the gate and looked at the two men.

"My name is Oleksandr Vadymovych Stepanyuk, I am the ambassador's chief of staff," he said, before briefly taking a sip of the boiling coffee.
"I have a meeting in ten minutes," he said. He then checked his gold watch and looked back at the two men.
"How can I help you?" he asked.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

A look of disgust came over Yavorsky's face. That wasn't what he'd meant at all--this girl was young enough to be his daughter! The Americans truly were debauchers, weren't they? Still, they needed to get along. "Thank you," he told the older officer, waiting patiently.

"Ah, good," mumbled Shevchenko as Stepanyuk approach. "A man."

Not good. Not the Ambassador. With all the hoops they were having to jump through, Yavorsky was beginning to wonder how the US recruited any informants at all during the Cold War. They didn't seem to understand subtlety. The two men would once again introduce themselves by name and rank.

"I understand," Yarovsky nodded, "This isn't official business and we're quite short on time ourselves. After the attempt on President Yushchenko's life, the responsibilities of the MoD and Militsiya have greatly increased. With that said, Minister Kuzmuk would like to form a friendship with your United States Ambassador. He sent us here with some documents regarding shared interests. Ambassador Kovalenko is a lover of history, yes?"

Shevchenko nodded, hoping they wouldn't have to resort to bribery.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Stepanyuk took another sip of his coffee, looked at the two men, and then started to walk away. "Open the gate!" he said, loud enough for the security officers to hear. The gate was opened and the men were allowed to enter the premises of the embassy. Stepanvuk held the door open for the two men, who would then have to go through a medal detector and then a pat down to make sure they were not carrying any weapons on them. Afterwards, they were allowed into the inner-sanctum of the embassy that was the "safe zone" of the embassy. Walking around were American employees ranging from young women like they saw before, to old soldiers who had decided to take a desk job at the State Department. If they made it through security, Stepanvuk guided them to a back hallway that led to a magnificent looking door. He knocked three times, heard a familiar, "Enter!" and then walked in. He closed the door behind him. A few moments went by, as two DSS agents carefully watched behind the two men from a distance, and then the chief of staff came out.

"The Ambassador will see you now," he said, before he took yet another sip of his coffee. The two men were allowed inside, and Stepanyuk joined them. He sat down and pulled out a pad and paper so that he could take notes.
"How can I help you two gentlemen?" the Ambassador asked as he took off his reading glasses and walked over to one of the comfortable sofas in the room. He sat down and offered everyone a glass of water and some bread.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Both Yavorsky and Shevchenko were unarmed. The sharpest thing security would find would be the pen in Yavorsky's breast pocket. A completely unremarkable instrument, he'd hand it over with no resistance if asked. His briefcase contained nothing that would set off a metal detector, nor would a dog have signaled on it if the Americans had used one.

"Thank you Mr. Ambassador," Yavorsky smiled at the bread. It was a very Ukrainian sort of welcome. After a brief introduction the two Ukrainians would take a seat. Shevchenko would allow his older colleague to do most of the talking.

"I don't know how much Mr. Stepanyuk has conveyed to you about why we're here. We've been sent by Minister Kuzmuk who believes you have some common interests--specifically regarding Ukrainian history." Yavorsky paused, glancing at the chief of staff. "With a name like Stepanyuk I'm sure your connection to our country must be very similar to the Ambassador's?"

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

The Ambassador cringed when Yavorsky asked about his chief of staff's past, and nervously took a sip of water. Stepanyuk also took a sip of his scolding coffee, and then looked at Yavorsky with his crystal blue eyes.
"My entire family, except for my mother, was killed in the Holodomor. I was only one year old when we escaped. Most of the Ambassador's senior staff have stories similar to this. We're here to form a diplomatic relationship with Ukraine, and to make sure that communism never rapes this country again," he said. The ambassador put his hand in his face and cringed. Stepanvuk did not believe in small talk.

"How exactly can I help you gentlemen?" the ambassador asked.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Mirroring Stepanyuk, Shevchenko had drawn his own notepad from an inner coat pocket. His pen skipped across a line or two as the American spoke.

“I’m sorry for what the Russians did to your mother,” said Yavorsky. “And to your family, Ambassador. I understand both your mother and father endured their share of abuses before the Moskali forced them into exile. It’s an intolerable shame Russia has evaded justice until now.”

“To address your question, we are here to establish friendly relations between your government and our provisional cabinet. The Office of the President has made optimistic statements to avoid panic and additional violence, but in truth Yushchenko won’t live another three days. He may very well be dead by this afternoon. Minister Kuzmuk would like to prepare for that.”

“I was hoping to start off on a gentler note, but Mr. Stepanyuk has brought us rather concisely to the point. We have the same goals as you two--we are working to ensure our Ukrainian Nation never suffers another genocide." His eyes went to his briefcase and lingered, calculating. "How can we convince your government that it would be worth their while to lease bases along our eastern border?”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Ambassador Kovalenko felt a bit uncomfortable with the use of "Moskali" but pretended to not notice it. While the two men were talking, a staffer walked in and handed a piece of paper to Stepanyuk, who read it and handed it over to the Ambassador.

"I am very sorry to hear about the President's current condition," the Ambassador said.
"If there's anything we can do to help him, please let me know... But on the topic of you being here, to.. establish friendly relations between the federal government and your 'provisional cabinet' - why am I speaking to a military officer and a policeman and not the Minister of Foreign Affairs? In fact, why am I not speaking to Leonid Kuchma. According to the Ukrainian constitution, shouldn't he be the Acting President until a new one is elected, since he is the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada?"

Stepanyuk sipped his piping hot coffee.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Shevchenko's scribbling came to an abrupt halt. He glanced up at the ambassador with a look of genuine confusion, like a child who has just had their hand slapped away from the kitchen table.

Yavorsky wore the same baffled expression as his counterpart. "After the Symonenko Coup, the Ministry of Defense went to great efforts to exorcise the communists from our ranks. I'm afraid the same can't be said of the other Ministries. As for Chairman Kuchma--"

"He became a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee in 1978, just after another wave of anti-Ukrainian persecution. What do you think he did to get that position?" demanded Shevchenko. "We're coordinating with the Office of the President. Yushchenko doesn't want a vote. Kuchma would just resume his role as a Russian puppet. You saw what they did to the Holodomor monument, you saw how they beat Yulia Tymoshenko outside the Rada, and I'm sure you've heard the recent announcement regarding the Night Stalker Case. We're appealing to you for assistance, but I'm concerned you aren't taking these threats seriously." He glanced at Stepanyuk, "their goals haven't changed in the past 60 years. They see us as nothing more than animals, and they'll murder as many of us as they can if we give them the chance. Will the West stand idly by again?"

Yavorsky gave him a look that said he better shut up. "We don't need the US to do anything, just sit at the border, that should be enough to ward them off, to keep them out of Ukraine's domestic affairs. We have plans for how to stabilize things once external forces are at bay. What can we do to convince your government?"

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Stepanyuk was disappointed that the last few sips of his coffee were not near-boiling as the first few were. He got up, walked to one of the back walls of the room, and poured himself another steaming cup of brew into his Styrofoam cup. He listened to the two men talk on, and then took his seat next to the Ambassador again.

"Well, being democratically elected would be a good start," Stepanyuk said.
"So..." the Ambassador said. "The Ministry of Defense has taken over the government, illegally. You're worried that the Russians are going to intervene in this domestic affair of yours, so you're asking the United States to rent military bases along the Russian border and deploy American ground forces? Gentlemen, when Canada was going through it's little fascist phase last year, we were already worried enough. But if the Russians had deployed ground forces into Canada, I can guarantee you that there would have been war. Other than outright invading Russia, possibly the worse thing we could do is mass-deploy forces to your country. And," he said, partially talking with his hands now as his frustration grew.

"Let's say I somehow convinced the Secretary of State, who convinces the White House, that deploying 50,000 soldiers and Marines to Ukraine was a good idea. What would happen if, even after we fully occupied the bases that we were 'renting,' the Russians launched a massive ground and air invasion into Ukraine with say, 150,000 ground forces? We would put up a fight, but I can tell you that it wouldn't be some suicide mission where our soldiers are fighting to the last man standing in each regiment. The Russians would be able to Blitzkrieg everything East of the Dnieper River before we could prepare another deployment. At this point, we would not be able to use the Black Sea to stage any more deployments, and we would be at the mercy of Poland who could, at any moment, cut our supply lines or refuse to allow us to deploy more troops because it may antagonize the Russians. And if Poland joins, we've essentially started World War 3... Am I missing some point of the equation here?" the Ambassador asked.

"You have an independent Ukraine. You have a Russian government that is the most moderate in modern history. You have, or had, a President who was carefully working to improve relations with the Russians. The forefathers of your country would salivate at the idea of being able to hold diplomatic talks with the Russians on equal footing... And, as it currently stands, your solution is to have the Ministry of Defense seize power of the country and try to convince the United States to mass-deploy troops to you, so that we can start a war where Ukraine will be the primary battle-ground? Gentlemen, there must be something that I am missing here, please explain. Because if you truly love your country, what you are saying and what you are doing seems like utter madness," the Ambassador concluded.

GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Yarovsky shook his head. “If Republicans murdered your President to put the Vice President in power, would you consider that democratic? Our constitution was not written with this sort of situation in mind. Our cabinet is a collaborative response by the MoD, Militsiya, and the Office of the President--not one leader but multiple elected temporarily from those government bodies. It’s not ideal, but when the communists and Russophiles are instigating violence I don’t know what you expect us to do?”

“The Russian Federation is collapsing in on itself,” he continued. “That ‘moderate government,’ the one that is pressuring us to cede Crimea and say it was never Ukrainian, they will soon revert to the Soviet system. Ukraine refuses to be dragged with it. They’ve had large scale riots in Moscow championing the grandson of Joseph Stalin--the man who tried to exterminate us like rats, who used the Russians’ hatred for us to conjure an artificial famine in Europe’s most fertile land. They murdered nearly three million of our children--literal children--and to this day even the non-communist katsaps deny it. You say our forefathers would salivate at the thought of appeasing them? Do you think the returning Soviet government will respect the integrity of Ukraine’s borders? No.” Yavorsky shook his head, his voice cool and controlled. “No, I don’t know about your parents, but mine would roll in their graves if we allowed the Russians to hurt us again.”

Shevchenko said nothing as he scribbled another line across his notepad. This was the best the Americans had to offer as their ambassador? It was a shame Ukrainian Americans were so removed from their motherland.

“Russia is most likely heading for another civil war. Their military will still be stronger than Ukraine’s, but they wouldn’t dare attack US forces--that would risk not only the ire of the Americans, but Canada and the UK, I’m sure. Unless you’d rather the Soviets expand their border? We can go back to the way things were less than ten years ago--restart the Cold War and the arms race that threatened to destroy the world.”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Ambassador Kovalenko pressed a button that was concealed under the coffee table to his right. Then, he stood up, followed by Stepanyuk. The two doors to the Ambassador's office opened, which revealed the two DSS agents who had been waiting outside.

"I will make sure that the White House hears what you told me," Kovalenko said. "But it's time for you to go now," he said. The two agents who were waiting at the door would escort the two men out of the embassy and off of the embassy grounds. After they left, their names and the positions they identified with in the Ukranian military/police would be forwarded to the National Police of Ukraine, the Ukranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister in a secure message from the Ambassador. The message read as follows:

UNITED STATES EMBASSY TO THE REPUBLIC OF UKRAINE​

[TR][TD]

---

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE​

---

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

[TR][TD]

TO: Viktor Yushchenko, President of the Republic of Ukraine
Viktor Yanukovych, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ukraine
Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ukraine
Serhiy Holovatyi, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Ukraine
Volodymyr Radchenko, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine​

FROM: Ivan Kovalenko, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Ukraine

Mister President, Prime Minister, Gentlemen,

I am sending this message to inform you that two individuals, Ihor Yavorsky and Ivan Shevchenko, physically came to the American Embassy today and wished to speak to me - they produced identification that indicated that they were with the Ukrainian military/police. After saying that they came to the embassy in no official capacity, they informed me that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is not just handling the current instability in Ukraine, but has performed a coup d'état and has built a rival cabinet to the legitimate (or once-legitimate) government. They attempted to conduct a diplomatic discussion with a member of my staff and myself. As of now, I am still not sure who is the Acting President of Ukraine, or who is in charge of the government. Regardless of what has happened, I would like to know who is in charge.

I have been informed by the State Department that President Gore would like to speak to President Yushchenko if he is conscious.

Best Regards,

Ivan Kovalenko
Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine
​

[/TD][/TR][/TD][/TR]

 

[GingeOrCringe]

The Ukrainians would leave quietly and without any trouble, Yarovsky taking extra care not to forget his briefcase.

"I'm truly sorry for your parents," he repeated as the two pairs of men parted ways. There was a different tone to it than earlier.

Once outside they would make an encrypted call for a driver from the ministry to retrieve them. There were other places they needed to be.

---

To: Reply All

Cc: Al Gore Odinson

From: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko

Subject: Re: leadership and security

Security: Private and Encrypted

Thank you for expanding on our current understanding of the situation. Minister Kuzmuk announced his so called ‘emergency leadership plan’ this morning, but we were pointedly unaware of any contact between the Ministry of Defense and foreign governments until now. We categorically reject the MoD’s claims to authority over the Republic outside of the military sphere specifically defined in our constitution. The MoD has no legitimate ability to investigate or command other ministries. The MoD has no admissible claim to legislative or judicial power.

Constitutionally, Chairman Kuchma is the successor to the President. Should foreign administrations require communication with our government, you may contact with him, myself, or a members of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion Mr. Yavorsky and Mr. Shevshenko may have caused. I can confirm that they are members of the MoD and militsiya respectively, but there is legitimate reason for them to be soliciting foreign diplomats. If possible, the Republic of Ukraine requests further details on this 'diplomatic discussion.'


Thank you for your notification,

Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko
Minister of Foreign Affairs

---

To: Reply All

Cc: Al Gore; Yurik Horbulin

From: Oleksandr Yakymenko

Subject: Re: leadership and security

Security: Private and Encrypted

President Yushchenko is not dead. Nor has the Verkhovna Rada approved Chairman Kuchma as Acting President. I ask that our American Friends disregard the previous email from Minister Gryshchenko as his explanation is incorrect. As of right now, President Yushchenko is our only legitimate Head of State. I urge all members of the Executive Branch to continue functioning as they did prior to the incident on the Maidan—answering to the constitutionally defined authority of the Prime Minister, and ultimately to the President.

To keep our American friends in the loop: Prime Minister Yanukovych has not yet returned from Thailand, any communication between him and the Cabinet of Ministers must be conducted remotely. The SSU does not advise he return home until we can better assure his safety. I will also inform you that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted one of our allies for assistance relocating him closer to Ukraine.

We are likewise working to ensure Chairman Kuchma’s safety. Again, the Chairman is not our head of state, he is the head of our legislative branch (similar to your Speaker of the House). The Rada has the power to approve him as Acting President until an emergency presidential election can be held, but that is neither necessary nor possible at this time.

President Yushchenko is in recovery, I’m sure he will be available to speak with you once he has finished his current call with Director Radchenko of the SSU. I advise you contact the President's his chief of staff in order to arrange this. I've Cc'd him in this message.


Respectfully,
Олександр Григорович Якименко
Oleksandr Hryhorovych Yakymenko
Deputy Director of the Security Service of Ukraine

---

To: Reply All

Cc: Al Gore; Yurik Horbulin

From: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko

Subject: Re: leadership and security

Security: private and encrypted

I very well understand that the Cabinet of Ministers is under the leadership of the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister is normally under the leadership of the President. However, if the President is unfit to perform his duties then the Prime Minister should defer to the will of the Rada as they are the government body that approved his recommended appointment by the President. The Chairman is the head of the Rada, ergo Chairman Kuchma has authority over Prime Minister Yanukovych and the Cabinet of Ministers.

I do not appreciate the manner in which you responded to my email, Deputy Director. In the future, please refrain from correcting Cabinet Ministers in such a way in front of foreign dignitaries. As per our earlier call, the central government must present a united front, especially now.

I would also like to add my own correction. It was Poland who contacted us regarding the Prime Minister, not the other way around. I've noticed quite a few of us are repeating misinformation. While most of these details are small, I think it's important for us to get them right. I request you reply to the Americans again to correct yourself, and that you reword your statements regarding the Chairman as they undermine his legitimacy. He would be Acting President if it weren't for the militsiya's interference.


If there is still disagreement you may call me at my normal number,

Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko
Minister of Foreign Affairs

---

To: Reply All

Cc: Al Gore; Yurik Horbulin

From: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko

Subject: Re: leadership and security

Security: private and encrypted

Please disregard my most recent email, I did not intend to reply all.


My apologies,

Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko
Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Odinson]

Private
​

President Gore and several members of the National Security Council gathered in the Oval Office. After some discussion between the President, the NSC, and some representatives from the State Department, President Gore picked up the phone from his desk and made a secure call to Ambassador Kovalenko in Ukraine. After some discussion, the ambassador hung up. Another secure call, from the Oval Office, was set up so that Kovalenko could securely listen to it from the embassy while not being on the call. Kovalenko then made a secure call to the Oval Office, where he was directly on the phone with a State Department Official. President Gore handed his secure line (that the ambassador was listening to) over to Michael Walsh who made a secure call to President Viktor Yushchenko. When the phone was answered, and whomever was on the other end greeted him, he would say, "This is Michael Walsh. I am an Assistant Secretary of State for the United States. I am calling from the White House - President Gore needs to speak to President Yushchenko immediately, it is a matter of life and death."

GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Encrypted

Chief of Staff Horbulin would take the call in the hospital hallway so as not to disturb the President's conversation with Director Radchenko. He nodded as he listed to the English speaker on the other end, too embarrassed to ask him to slow down or repeat himself.

Horbulin took a deep gulp of the shitty coffee the nurse had brought them. He swore he could taste the metal spoon he'd used to stir in the cream and sugar--it was probably acidic enough to melt it...

"Amnististantto Secretary Walsh," He began, speaking as if he recognized the title. "I am called Yurik Horbulin--Head of President Staff. Please excuse me, we talked to Sparrow industries on matter of Russian strife and debt already. We buy no more Russian debts, but thank you. Can we help you with other things? President Yushchenko has health now, but is very busy. We schedule call?"

The two Spetsnaz standing guard at the door to the President's hospital room looked at each other. The Chief of Staff gave them a nod, taking their unimpressed expressions to mean they could not speak the language with the same fluency he possessed. At least he hoped that was the case. His accent was particularly atrocious.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Michael Walsh frowned and silently started contemplating the pros and cons of America's generous immigration policy as he looked over to the President and then a translator. Walsh handed the translator the phone and listened through a secure listening device so that he could still hear the call.
"Hello Mister Horbulin. I am a translator for the White House," the babushka said in flawless Ukrainian.
"Assistant Secretary of State Walsh has asked me to translate for him, I will begin doing so now..." she said, and then started translating. Horbulin could of course only hear the Ukrainian, and not the English.

"Mister Horbulin, my name is Michael Walsh, I am an Assistant Secretary of State of the United States. I am calling from the White House - President Gore needs to speak to President Yushchenko immediately, it is an urgent matter of life and death. This cannot wait," she said with sternness.

GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Horbulin frowned. Of course he felt more at ease speaking his usual mix of Russian and Ukrainian, but something about this woman’s voice unsettled him. Too much like his mother.

“Oh, thank you for repeating, that’s much better. I think there must have been some kind of misconnection—the audio was very distorted at first. One second please.”!He would pop his head in the doorway. He was still reluctant to cause another disturbance, but it seemed the president was wrapping up his call.

“American,” said Horbulin, his hand over the receiver. “They say it’s urgent and cannot wait. They, um, they insist on a translator.”

Yushchenko sighed and rubbed his eyes for a moment. One damn thing after another today. How embarrassing that the only attention they’d get from the flagship of democracy was during such a turbulent time for Ukraine... He conclude the Radshenko call and hold out his hand for the second phone.

“Hello, this is President Yushchenko,” he said in crisp Ukrainian. “I’m told you are a translator, thank you for your assistance. Who exactly are you representing and what is this urgent matter?” His father had been their village’s only English teacher. He could speak descent English, but wouldn’t mention it. The Americans were just being accommodating and that seemed a rare thing from foreign leaders.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"President Yushchenko," the translator said as President Gore began to speak to her, "this is President Gore. I'm calling to see how your health is, I hope that you are feeling and doing better. Forgive me for being blunt, but I feel that this is urgent - are you aware that your Ministry of Defense is currently staging a coup d'etat in your country?" he asked. The translator translated the President's words into perfect Ukranian. The President, the American Ambassador, and everyone else in the Oval Office waited for the response from President Yushchenko.

GingeOrCringe