It’s been all the news has talked about for days on end , and yet most of us have absolutely no idea what is truly happening in Ukraine. Is there just tension, or has the crisis devolved into war? Have there been peaceful protests or full scale rioting? Is the crisis being resolved or is it just escalating. Depends on who you ask. But all can agree on one thing: it’s been ugly.
Anti-government demonstrations began in Ukraine late last year when their president turned down a European trade and political deal due to pressure from Mr. Vladimir Putin, the “president” of Russia. This escalated into a general outcry against corruption in the government and police violence against protesters. After months, the Ukrainian president fled from the capitol, which was seized by protesters. Parliament voted to remove the president and hold presidential elections, also releasing an opposition leader who was jailed by the president. The president, however, has claimed that he still runs the country.
So where does Russia come in? A place in Ukraine called Crimea is the only region where most people consider themselves Russian. A group of armed men in support of strong Russian relations with Ukraine held marches through the streets on Crimea, a direct threat to the new Ukrainian government. Thus, Putin decided that the “solution” in this instance is to send Russian troops to protect the Russians living in Crimea. He also cut off the natural gas supply from Russia to Ukraine, which accounts for 60% on Ukraine’s gas.
Russia claims that the new Ukrainian government is illegitimate and that they have complete authority to be on the Crimean peninsula, according to a supposed treaty between neighboring nations. Ukraine and the United States both disagree, saying that this invasion on more than 6,000 troops is an act of aggression, a number Russia has denied sending to Ukraine. Putin is playing a dangerous game, for he fears Ukraine will fall under European influence.
The U.S. has announced that they are sending aid to Ukraine, but frankly that isn’t going to sufficiently provide the help Ukraine needs. The country is living on borrowed time and money, as the cracks of their debt keep growing larger and larger. Punishing Russia, isolating them diplomatically, freezing their assets, and banning travel will achieve nothing. 33% of European gas comes from Russia, and Russian trade with Europe amounts to $100 billion a year. The European Union needs Russia, and Putin knows it.
Helping Ukraine is diplomatically easier than dealing with Putin and the Russian government. The U.S. and Europe have enough power to approve a large loan to Ukraine, with a few attached strings. By solving Ukraine’s economic problems, the teeter-totter between the East and the West for Ukraine ends, and the country becomes a bridge between the two rather than a war zone. So how can this crisis be solved? Give them some real money.
More Facts on the Ukrainian Situation
Crimea is a small peninsula that borders the Black sea and the Sea of Azov. It has historically been a strategic center used to ferry goods into inner Russia. During the rise of the Soviet Union, Russia gained control of both Crimea and Ukraine, and also instituted Soviet law. Ukrainians and Crimeans blended into the Russian culture. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Ukraine became an independent state and held Crimea. Ukraine, however, still had more nuclear weapons in it than Britain, France, and China combined. The US, UK, and Russian Federation signed the Budapest Memorandum, an agreement with Ukraine that, in exchange for the disarmament of all nuclear weapons, they would
1. Respect Ukrainian independence and sovereignty within its existing borders.
2. Refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine.
3. Refrain from using economic pressure on Ukraine in order to influence its politics.
4. Seek United Nations Security Council action if nuclear weapons are used against Ukraine.
6. Refrain from the use of nuclear arms against Ukraine.
7. Consult with one another if questions arise regarding these commitments.
The president of Ukraine left his country, and the Independence movement succeeded. Only problem was, Russia, the dominant power in the region, did not recognise the coup as legitimate. To solve this problem, they acted in a way that was seen by the international community. President Obama said that “any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia, or Europe.” However, in direct disregard of the UN, US, and EU, Russia invaded Crimea. They sealed the borders, and now only Russians can go into Crimea. The entire G8 has warned Russia not to annex Crimea, a step they will likely take. They view it as a direct reproach of the Budapest Memorandum. This story continues to develop daily, and when you read this, there will likely be new changes to this ever-evolving story.
This entire controversy overshadows the Olympic and Paralympic games, two events that should have been a celebration of the unity of nations, are now being hosted in a country practically at war with another.
