Ukraine And Russia: The Latest World News You might not have been paying close attention to the conflict in Ukraine, and that’s perfec...
Ukraine And Russia: The Latest World News
You might not have been paying close attention to the conflict in Ukraine, and that’s perfectly understandable. It’s not something that’s really affecting the daily lives of most people in the West, after all; with ISIS on the march in Iraq and Syria, Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine, and China building up its military presence in contested waters in the South China Sea, you can be forgiven for forgetting about Ukraine and Russia altogether. But here’s what you need to know about the latest world news on Ukraine and Russia.
What Is Happening in Eastern Ukraine?
In late February, Russian forces took control of Crimea, an autonomous peninsula that is part of Ukraine. Since then, Ukrainian officials say Russia has sent more troops into other parts of Eastern Ukraine—troops that are propping up separatists in at least 10 cities. On Tuesday morning, President Obama announced he had ordered limited military assistance to Ukrainian forces because of what he called a growing threat from Russia. There is plenty still to be figured out about how we got here, including how much or little President Vladimir Putin will move beyond Crimea into Eastern Ukraine or even beyond. But now seems like a good time to start trying to figure it out—the latest world news on Ukraine and exactly what you need to know about Russian involvement there right now.
What Caused the Protests in Kiev?
At its core, what caused these protests? It was a conflict that began with Ukraine's rejection of an agreement with the European Union in favor of one with Russia. Protesters feel like closer ties to Europe would be good for their country; Putin is concerned about losing influence over Ukraine. There are other reasons, too—like Yanukovych's unpopular decision to back out of signing an association agreement with Europe—that have less to do with geopolitics and more to do with internal Ukrainian politics.
Who Is Behind the Violence?
In Ukraine, a number of political parties have been active since independence in 1991. President Victor Yanukovych's Party of Regions has ruled since 2010. The opposition is represented by an array of political parties that have gained seats in recent elections for parliament but remain largely unsuccessful at challenging Yanukovych's party. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko leads one faction that appears to have support among the urban middle class. Another group, known as Pravy Sektor (Right Sector), includes ultranationalists who favor secession from Ukraine or union with neighboring Belarus and Russia; it has reportedly been involved in attacks on police forces during recent demonstrations in Kiev.
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What Is President Yanukovych Doing Now?
Russian President Vladimir Putin is working hard to get Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych to sign an agreement that would keep Ukraine aligned with Russia. Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov has said that he wants more time before making a decision. Meanwhile, protesters in Kiev have called for Yanukovych to step down over his decision to delay an association agreement with European Union leaders. Also on Tuesday, more clashes between anti-government protesters and police erupted in Kiev as opposition leaders met with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton; protest leaders accused Yanukovych of breaking a promise made during those talks on Friday to call early elections. Protesters have been protesting against Yanukovych since November after he initially rejected signing an association agreement with Europe, fearing it could cost jobs.
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Where Does the U.S. Stand On This?
Despite geopolitical tensions, America has been closely watching events unfold in Ukraine. After pro-Russian forces took control of Crimea last week, Secretary of State John Kerry made a strong statement that they had violated international law. At a press conference on March 6th, he said In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders. Then on Tuesday President Obama warned that Crimea's annexation would negatively impact Russia. Though he did not specify what actions might be taken, other U.S. officials have threatened sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals who were involved in efforts to secure Crimea's secession from Ukraine in a referendum scheduled for Sunday.
Where Do Other Countries Stand On This?
Amid ongoing unrest in Ukraine, Western powers have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. The U.S., Canada, E.U., Sweden, Switzerland, Australia and Norway all urged Moscow to call off a referendum on Crimea that it has scheduled for Sunday. Obama said if Russian troops move into eastern Ukraine there will be further consequences. Meanwhile in Kiev on Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk resigned after taking office last month following deadly protests against his predecessor Viktor Yanukovych's decision to back out of a trade deal with Europe in favor of closer ties with Moscow.
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