Despite Russia crisis, Ukraine hopeful for future

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians live in fear of a Russian invasion. Their Crimean Peninsula has been taken over by Moscow. And the nation’s economy has careened to the brink of collapse. Ukrainians might be forgiven for losing hope in the dreams of the protest movement that drove their corrupt president from power in February.

But polls and conversations with ordinary Ukrainians show something that may surprise: People are more confident about their future today than they were during the rule of deposed leader Viktor Yanukovych.