While social standards deteriorate in economically ailing Europe, Ukraine is prospering so much that the contrasts make people kiss the ground when they land in Ukraine arriving from Europe. At least that’s the view of Donetsk Oblast Governor Andriy Shyshatsky, who told local media on Feb. 25: “Today the world in general is falling, falling economically, falling in terms of social standards. This is especially true in European counties – Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria… Ukraine, meanwhile, despite lack of GDP (gross domestic product) growth, still raises its social standards… Our countrymen, my friends, when they arrive with a plane (back in Ukraine), they say they wanted to kiss the ground – out of realization of how good we have it here,” Shyshatsky said
