Our topic will be covering the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and the history of the two nations that has led us to this crisis.
This event emerged from the recent Euromaidan protests that began in November of 2013. The protests were sparked by the Ukrainian government signing an agreement that sought closer ties with Russia. The problem with this is that many citizens especially in Western Ukraine were under the impression that Ukraine would be pushing to join the EU. By signing the agreement with Russia many Ukrainians felt betrayed and some even felt fear, remembering what the Soviet Union once was. The Euromaidan continued through the frigid Ukrainian winter and into the spring of 2014. It was in this period of time that the Euromaidan protest turned into the 2014 Ukraininan Revolution. The protests in Kiev turned violent as police and national guard ordered by President Viktor Yanukovych to disperse the protesters; whom many have occupied many regional administration buildings across the country. Ukrainian protesters were shot and many were killed. After many bloody days and months of conflict power within the government finally shifted and a new coalition government was formed. Viktor Yanukovych was ousted and he subsequently fled the country to Russia along with many of his advisors.
http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/euromaidan-ukraine%E2%80%99s-self-organizing-revolution
After the formation of a new government with elections on the horizon it was during this time that new protests erupted in Eastern Ukraine. But this time Pro-Russian protesters stormed and occupied regional administration buildings. Also as the crisis got worse and worse in Eastern Ukraine. Russia occupied the Crimean peninsula with it’s armed forces. All of the armed forces occupied Crimea without any insignia claiming that they are local Crimean residents with armored tanks and helicopters at their disposal. The region held a disputed referendum that annexed Crimea to Russia. It is this intervention by Russia that the crisis in Eastern Ukraine hasn’t been resolved. Many Pro-Russian militant groups control the cities of Donetsk and Lugansk along the Russian border. It has taken some time for the Ukrainian authorities to regain control over much of the territory but the Separatists remain. It is here that Russia has been accused of being involved yet again. Pro-Russian Separatists have long depended on hand-me down AK-74s and various pieces of captured Ukrainian military equipment. But when the situation deteriorated, the Pro-Russian Separatists responded with highly sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry (Flight MH17) and GRAD rocket barrages.
links:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/12/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-most-likely-shot-down-from-ground
http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-separaatists-sophisticated-weaponry/25462211.html
We feel this topic is of high importance because Russia’s actions in violating international law really question the actions and integrity of countries around the world. If Russia does not feel the need to respect other countries sovereignty and respect international law, why should anybody? The United Kingdom could take over the whole country of Ireland, China, as well as all the islands in the South China Sea, and if you respond and tell them no you can not, they will show you their military might. China would show Vietnam the second largest military in the world and Vietnam would have no choice but to back out. So the little guy loses, and the balance of the world yet again depends on military might.This is an issue that is extremely important because it gives us insights of how the world could change in the future, what forces shape it, and the interests that the leading nations of the world have. If we look very close at this problem there are many factors that have led us to this point; The cultural identity, the natural resources, and the contrasting military forces, etc. Alec Benedetti
Bartosz Rost
Sanish Shrestha
Magaly Velasco
Diego Jones
Keiko Jimenez
Hoyan Mok
References
Bezhan, F. (2014, July 18). Charting Separatists' Use Of Increasingly Sophisticated
Weaponry In Ukraine. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Deeks, A. (2014, March 2). Here's What International Law Says About Russia's Intervention in Ukraine. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
Diuk, N. (2014, April 1). Euromaidan: Ukraine's Self-Organizing Revolution. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Earnest, J. (2014, September 2). Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 9/2/2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17: 'most likely' it was shot down from ground. (2014, September 12). Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Wingfield-Hayes, R. (2014, September 9). China's Island Factory. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
Hill C., Fortell Q., (March 5 2014). 5 Ways Ukraine Could Affect US Consumers.Retreived September 13,2014
I very much enjoyed your block post. This situation should be concerning to everyone in the world, but perhaps most to Europeans (besides Ukrainians themselves). It's developing right on their doorstep, and as you mentioned in your post much of their gas flows through the country. Also, many members aboard the flight gunned down where Europeans. Russian actions constitute a violation of international law and must be condemned, but the question then turns to how. Purely economically? Or perhaps militarily? Diplomatically? Whatever the response, we must be sure they understand the line they have crossed.
ReplyDeleteI think you all did a really good job at bringing up such issues as sovereignty and international law because I think the Ukrainian crisis exemplifies all of these issues and more. I would however also touch upon what both Putin and Yanukovych have had to say regarding their policies on the conflict. What is Russia's ultimate goal in supporting the separatists? How does Yanukovych plan–if at all–to reunify Crimea post-referendum? How would Ukraine joining NATO impact the conflict? All of these questions about what the policymakers are thinking and what the historical context is will bring your posts from simply informative to really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a great blog post. It was really detailed and brought up most of the issues that led up to the crisis. You also picked really great photos and maps to show your points.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great blog post. I really enjoyed the last point that was made regarding to international law being broken and the actions of integrity. Especially with the point claiming the little guy would have no option but to give in. I'm looking forward to the next post.
ReplyDeleteI think this post raises many good questions about a country's responsibility to its people and how they may conflict with its interests in the world. It seems hard for Ukrainians not to feel betrayed by their government, which would obviously lead to internal turmoil.
ReplyDelete