Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe again echoes to the sound and fury of revolution. Back in 1989 the collapse of the wall heralded the end of the cold war. Much of central and eastern Europe escaped Soviet hegemony and walked peacefully into the embrace of the European Union. The insurrectionary drama unfolding in Ukraine is still in its early days. Several acts lie ahead. But even when set against the epic events of 1989, its historic significance cannot be dismissed. This is a moment of immense opportunity – and immense danger – for Ukraine, for the EU and for Russia. More than any single moment since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the revolution that began in Kiev heralds “the hour of Europe”.
柏林墙倒塌25年后，革命的喧哗与骚动之声再次回响在欧洲上空。1989年柏林墙倒塌预示着冷战结束，中欧和东欧大部分地区脱离了苏联统治，和平地投入欧盟(EU)怀抱。如今，乌克兰动乱大戏才刚开头，还有好多幕没演。但就算是与1989年的历史性事件相比，乌克兰本次事件的历史重要性也不容忽视。无论是对乌克兰、欧盟还是俄罗斯而言，眼下都是个巨大机遇和巨大风险并存的时刻。自苏联解体以来，从来没有哪个事件比这场从基辅开始的革命更加明确地昭示着“欧洲时刻”的到来。