AHC: Genuinely independent non-Communist Ukraine after WWI (in 1920s) without a Central Powers victo

[raharris1973]

Here is the alternate history challenge-

Have the crisis that involved the Russian revolutions of 1917, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the end of WWI and German defeat, and Russian Civil War, end with an interwar era, 1920s, with a genuinely independent, non-Communist Ukraine. Russia proper can end up either a Bolshevik Communist state, or under another form of government.

How big could the independent Ukraine plausibly be. Again, the western Entente and Associated powers still need to dictate the peace to Germany and dismantle the Central Powers rather than a CP victory or a negotiated armistice of equals.

[stevep]

   Interesting challenge and could be tough. You really need a scenario in which the Russian civil war ends in stalemate and mutual exhaustion and a divided Russia so there's no Russian state strong enough to impose itself on a newly created and probably fairly fragile Ukraine.  Also that no other player, such as Poland that seeks to make territorial gains at its expense.  Although possibly it could snatch some territories as OTL after the defeat of the Bolshevik invasion and still leave an independent Ukraine.

  Possibly Lenin and Trotsky makes more of a mess of the war with Germany or the whites are more co-ordinated or get more aid from the rest of the world although how the civil war ends in a stalemate and all side shattered is difficult.

[Max Sinister]

How big? Depends on whether and which support they'll have against Russia. Poland would have liked to own a part of Ukraine too.

[nomommsen]

... for making such an independant Ukraine possible ... what about the Entente powers decide to sent their intervention troops - or some - into the Black Sea?
... maybe 'utilising' troops from the Balkan to land on the Krim, Kertsch, Rostow, Odessa or else thereby making contact to Denikin/Wrangel etc. supporting them - at least somewhat ... more - against the Bolsheviks.

With them at the Krim whatever 'ententefriendly' regime that might pop up at Kiev (or elsewhere in the Ukraine) they might have a chance to stabilise enough for being present at the parisienne negotiation tables. ... what might give them also some ... protection from polish ... interests.