If you’re following the news, you’ve probably heard about the current situation in Ukraine. It has been spiraling out of control, with Russia seemingly pulling all the strings. What started as a political protest has quickly turned into a full-blown war. With so much at stake, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn. This guide is written with you in mind. In it, we will outline everything you need to know about Russia and Ukraine, from the basics (politics and geography) to more specific topics (military and economy). By the time you finish reading this guide, you will have all the information you need to make an informed decision about what to do next.
Russia
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine have been struggling with their relationship. This struggle has led to a number of wars and conflicts, most notably the War in Donbass. However, there is another conflict brewing which threatens to cause even more damage.
This other conflict is between the Russian Federation and the European Union. The dispute centers around Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The E.U. has imposed several sanctions on Russia and has threatened further measures if Moscow does not change its behavior.
The situation has become tense enough that several NATO members are now on high alert and are preparing for a possible Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine. This would not be the first time that Moscow has intervened militarily in Europe; however, this time it could lead to full-scale war between Russia and the West.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the north, Belarus to the east and southeast, Poland to the south, and Hungary to the west. The country has an area of 603,628 square kilometers and a population of about 42 million people.
The Ukrainian government is made up of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The president is head of state and holds offices for five-year terms. The prime minister is head of government and holds office for a four-year term. The parliament consists of 450 deputies who are elected by proportional representation. Ukraine’s legal system is based on Russian law with some elements from French law.
The economy of Ukraine is mainly based on agriculture, manufacturing, services, and mineral extraction. The country’s major exports include oil products, coal, machinery, textiles, food products, armaments, and metals. The main imports include machinery and equipment, natural gas, chemicals, weapons systems, minerals
The War in Crimea
With the recent events in Crimea, there has been a lot of talk about what is going on in Eastern Ukraine. Here is a breakdown of what is happening and why.
In March 2014, protests erupted in the Ukrainian city of Kiev after then-president Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an agreement with the European Union that would have strengthened ties between Ukraine and the outside world. The agreement would have placed greater restrictions on Yanukovych’s power and reduced his control of the country’s economy.
Yanukovych was eventually forced out of power in February 2015 after months of protests led by pro-western activists. His replacement, Petro Poroshenko, pledged to continue negotiations with the EU but these talks quickly broke down. In April, Russia began an invasion and occupation of Crimea following a referendum vote which saw nearly 97 percent of Crimeans vote to secede from Ukraine and become part of Russia.
There are several reasons why Russia decided to invade and occupy Crimea. First, Putin views Ukraine as being a loyal satellite state that has not treated Russian citizens well over the years. Second, Putin was furious after violent clashes between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian police forces near Donetsk Airport in Nov 2014 left 40 Russian soldiers dead. Third, Putin saw the signing of the EU agreement as a threat to Russia’s traditional sphere of influence in Eastern Europe.
War in Donbass
Since the Euromaidan Revolution of 2014, Ukraine has been struggling with a ongoing conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This conflict began as a localized dispute over local taxation and political representation, but quickly escalated into a full-blown war. The main combatants are the Ukrainian military and volunteer battalions backed by pro-Russian militias, versus the Russian Armed Forces (AFS) and numerous irregulars supporting Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR/LPR).
The fighting has taken a heavy toll on both sides. According to UN estimates, over 10,000 people have been killed, over 30,000 wounded, millions displaced from their homes, and GDP losses estimated at over $60 billion since the start of the conflict. As of December 2018, ceasefire negotiations were underway in Minsk between representatives of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany but there was no sign of progress.
1) What is the background to the war in Donbass?
The war in Donbass arose from a longstanding dispute between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The initial spark for this conflict was a dispute over local taxation and political representation; however this quickly escalated into full-blown warfare. The main combatants are Ukrainian military forces backed by volunteer battalions versus Russian Armed Forces supported by various irregulars. As of December 2018 ceasefire negotiations were underway in Minsk but
Putin’s Russia
In recent years, Russia has experienced a resurgence in its global stature. This is largely due to the leadership of Vladimir Putin, who has led the country since 2000.
Putin’s Russia is not a typical post-Soviet state. It is an autocratic regime with a Kremlin-controlled government and unelected legislative body. The Russian economy is dominated by state-owned enterprises and oligarchs, which gives Putin considerable power.
Putin has used this power to consolidate power and control the media. He also has been aggressive in neighboring countries, most notably in Ukraine. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, which have resulted in the death of over 10,000 people.
The Euromaidan Revolution
The Euromaidan Revolution in Ukraine was a series of protests and sit-ins beginning on November 21, 2013, to demand closer ties with the European Union. The protesters named the movement after the Maidan Nezalezhnosti ( Independence Square ), which had served as the focal point for earlier pro-European demonstrations.
By early December 2013, protests had spread throughout all of Ukraine, with rallies and demonstrations taking place in cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Donetsk. In addition to calls for closer ties with the European Union, protesters also voiced their opposition to government corruption and alleged electoral fraud . By February 2014, Euromaidan had evolved into a mass protest movement against President Viktor Yanukovych’s perceived abandonment of Ukrainian interests in favour of closer ties with Russia.
On February 21st, 2014 Yanukovych fled the country following days of mass protests and bloodletting between demonstrators and police forces. Days later Yanukovych signed an agreement transferring power to Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk , who vowed to implement democratic reforms and hold presidential elections by December 2015.
The War in the East
The War in the East is a ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict began when pro-Russian separatists backed by the Russian military attempted to overthrow the Ukrainian government in early 2014. Since then, the war has escalated, with both sides using everything from artillery to tanks and even nuclear weapons. As of January 2019, over 10,000 people have been killed in the war, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in recent history.
This guide will explain what caused the War in the East and how it has progressed. It will also cover some of its key features and take a look at some of the key players involved.
Conclusion
In this guide, we provide an overview of the events that have led up to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We also explore the political and economic factors that have contributed to the tension between the two countries. Finally, we offer our thoughts on what is likely to happen in the future as a result of this crisis. Throughout all of this content, we aim to be unbiased and objective, so that you can make an informed decision about what is happening in the world today. Thank you for reading!