The current standoff between Ukraine and Russia has caused much angst, and there are many questions about why. One of the biggest ones is the reason Putin wants to invade the country. It is a clear indication that he’s not interested in solving these conflicts, and he’s clearly a supporter of the Western powers. Despite the rhetorical fallout, a new conflict may be on the horizon.
On the day of the inauguration of the presidential election, the Kremlin announced that it had shot down seven Russian fighter jets. However, the Ukrainian military refused to give up and continues to build up its forces and move medical units and blood closer to the front lines. Several thousand civilians have already fled the war zone into Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. Some have also escaped into Romania and Bulgaria. While there’s been no official word from Putin, the U.S. government has also said that it is moving tens of thousands of troops to the area. The Indian government has been pulling out all the stops to rescue the 250+ Indian students.
On June 20, 2014, the US Department of State issued a daily press briefing, and on August 14, 2014, the OSCE published a weekly report on Russian checkpoints in the Donbass region. In the meantime, Human Rights Watch and Newsweek reported that pro-Kyiv vigilantes were attacking civilians. In August, the OSCE reported that Russian military forces had killed 79 separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict continues to be a thorny issue. The separatist leader is boasting that Russia is sending fresh tanks and trained troops. In the meantime, Russia remains silent, while the BBC reports new shelling. Earlier in September, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe issued a press release stating that the Ukrainian government will simultaneously release all prisoners and hostages captured by the Ukrainian rebels.
The conflict between the two nations is also a political one. While both countries’ governments have been expressing concern over the Russian attack on Ukraine, they both have their own motives. The Ukrainian government wants to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine’s eastern regions. The USSR, in turn, wants to regain control over those territories. Hence, the Ukraine-Russia war is a thorny problem. And yet, the conflict is not just about money.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is over more than just politics. The two countries are divided by history, and this makes them polar opposites. The Ukrainian government has a long history of military intervention. The USSR had an extensive presence in Ukraine and it has no other country’s equivalent. It was ruled by the USSR for decades, and later it separated from the Soviet Union. The war between the two countries has resulted in tensions ever since the former was declared independent, and President Putin is attempting to regain control of the territory.
The conflict has many reasons, but they all boil down to one: both countries are desperate for peace. Both countries’ main exports have been hit by the crisis, and both have a history of corruption. While the Russians’ economic woes are legitimate, the Russians’ actions are counterproductive and may even backfire. They are not able to resolve the conflict. If the Ukraine and Russia have a good chance of reunification, they will make the conflict peaceful.
During the conflict, both sides are trying to maintain their positions. The Ukrainian government is trying to force the Russian army out of their country. It’s also trying to hold onto its eastern part of the country. It has no power in the east and is no longer a legitimate force for the people in the east. Its citizens are being displaced, but there is no way to stop the violence. Those who have fled don’t want to leave.
In addition to the military clash, there’s the escalation of Russian sanctions. The Kremlin and the Russian government are increasingly worried that the conflict is a stepping stone to a new cold war. The conflict has pushed both sides to the brink of collapse. The Kremlin has made a good point to keep a dialogue open. The escalation of the conflict has the potential to be a destabilizing factor.