By Lawrence Ntim '17
Nearly a month has passed since the introduction of numerous Russian forces into the area of Crimea, a southern Ukrainian Peninsula that over this time has become the focal point of international relations. There are many reasons why this location has become so important and it can all be traced back to the Ukraine revolution that gained massive traction in February.
Ukraine Revolution
The revolution initially began after President Viktor Yanukovych decided to align with Russia for aid and refuse the strengthening of the country’s relationship with the European Union. President Yanukovych was ousted, a new government was set up under former Prime Minister Oleksandr Turchunov and the previous constitution between 2004 and 2010 was restored. This constitutional restoration did not come easily and the nation was plagued with riots, fires and police clashes in the capital of Kiev. The Ukrainian Ministry of Healthcare reported over 100-recorded deaths and 1200 injuries. The international community became polarized over the issue with some in support of the protesters while Russia claimed the new government to be illegitimate and a coup d’état.
The Solidification of Crimea
Within the final days of the revolution, Russia had consolidated and strengthened their position in Crimea. Thousands of Russian troops were deployed and stationed around civilian areas along the Ukrainian border. Such behavior was regarded as highly inappropriate by the international community especially the western nations who accused Russia of attempts at invading Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the deployment of soldiers by arguing that his nation feared for the safety of many Russians living in Crimea during the transition of governments. Russia stated that they would remain in Crimea until a new legitimate government was established. President Putin claimed that the new government was a result of the coup d’état and had not gone through proper electoral procedures.
The Current Situation
During the course of the conflict, international relations were strained between western and eastern nations, which evoked Secretary of state John Kerry to visit Kiev and address Russia’s current incredible acts of aggression. In response to these actions, President Obama imposed Visa bans on certain Russian and Ukrainian officers who were believed to be at the core of the conflict. While Vladimir Putin and President Obama were issuing threats and possible sanctions, the Crimean parliament, which is largely pro-kremlin, established a date for a succession vote that would allow Crimea to secede from Ukraine and become a part of Russia. This move was condemned by the United States and European Union as a violation of the Ukrainian Constitution and International Law.
The Results of this Crisis
As the situation continues to unfold, Vladimir Putin has emphasized that US-Russia relations should not be hampered by this one exclusive yet significant incident. However, it is likely that this turbulent relationship will only grow worse. Additionally, the relationship between the United States and Ukraine has become increasingly fragile as Ukraine accuses Russia of violating its nation’s sovereignty. As a result, Ukraine has been increasing its armed forces. This geopolitical issue has been anything but fruitful, as stock markets plummeted. Russia’s MICEX dropped by 10% and the Dow Jones dropped by over 150 points on Monday, March 3rd. At this point, the world awaits incoming actions on Crimea from both the West and Russia, which could be determinants of European stability in the coming years.
Sources:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-03/u-s-index-futures-drop-after-s-p-500-record-on-crimea.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/06/obama-ukraine_n_4913035.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26477529
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/02/us-ukraine-crisis-usa-kerry-idUSBREA210DG20140302
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304554004579422624182460570
http://www.globalpost.com/photo/6086660/obama-putin-june-17-2013
http://www.cfr.org/ukraine/issue-guide-crisis-ukraines-crimea/p32516