Two Eagles, Four Heads―Two Empires in Ukraine

Both Russia and Austria had double-headed eagles in their coat of arms. The hungry eagles agreed to share Ukraine―but they both wanted it all.

If the land in Ukraine is not being strafed with tank fire or seeded with landmines, it has the potential to feed millions. It also stands squarely between Russia or Austria and the Black Sea, causing profit-reducing tolls to be levied on goods entering and leaving. If a nation were to own Ukraine, then there would be no hindrance to the prosperity of the nation that had possession.

The reason for wanting to own Ukraine was simple and obvious; the only problem was taking it and making it stick. Russia and Austria had each gotten part-way to their goal. Now they were eyeing each other.