Looming War in Eastern Europe
Ukraine: The Center of Severe Riots
April 24, 2014
This article covers a research project that intended to introduce developing events in the Eastern European country of Ukraine, and represented my ability to use multiple sources, as well as my own analysis to cover events that were relevant to students. Covering international news was a challenge as a student reporter, but by explaining background information available on Ukraine, I was able to develop a greater understanding of current events in my article.
The Soviet Union may have fallen over a score of years ago, but the lingering power complex leaks into today’s political environment. Recent developments in the Eastern European country of Ukraine, north of the Black Sea, have worsened the existing tensions in the region. Over a month after a revolution in Ukraine's capital overthrew the government, the country's new leaders have watched Russia claim a region for its own, wage an "information war", and mass an estimated 40,000 troops at the border, all while pro-Russian protests have bloomed in eastern cities, according to The Guardian. The interim government currently operating in Kiev faces the possibility of invasion or civil war, and has tried to prevent both European Union and Russian influence in protests and politics.
This conflict derived from extreme financial issues in Ukraine, as the GDP of the nation has declined in recent years. In the pursuit for financial assistance in 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych avoided interference of the European Union,an unpopular move that eventually lead to an organized political movement known as "Euromaidan." While the movement was successful in removing Yanukovych from power, it brought in greater Russian influence in regions that had supported Viktor Yanukovych, such as Crimea.
In the divided nation, the Western Ukrainians tend to side with the European Union and hope to distance from Russian heritage, whereas the Eastern Ukrainians tend to prefer the a Russian alliance. The involvement of the Russian military in Crimea has now expanded the issue upon the regional power balance, but instead to an international affair, as the United Nations begins to examine policy drafted in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Often a loyal ally to the European Union, the United States is considering all paths of involvement, including diplomatically and militarily, according to White House sources. Political analysts suggest that economic embargoes and sanctions would initiate efforts of change towards Russia, but dominant Congressional leaders such as Majority Leader Embargoes or sanctions would come first, hoping to squeeze change out of countries through economic pressure. But the United States is often rash, and it is highly probable our massive military will be a deciding factor in this situation. To relate to history, the US was late to join many war efforts, including both World Wars. Yet, we were major keys in ending both wars showing that we will be sought upon as allies in this situation. But what if a war does occur? The US will most likely not get involved for a while. Under the Constitution, the powers to determine foreign affairs are shared between the congressional and executive branches. With different parties in control of these branches, and with President Obama in a lame duck presidency, history has set a precedent that unless action is forced, it will most likely come after the 2016 Presidential election, as experts at Politico have analyzed. Ukraine is definitely in hot debate, but the future of US Policy concerning this issue is still undetermined.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/11/ukraine-russia-crimea-sanctions-us-eu-guide-explainer
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/mitch-mcconnell-foreign-policy-105031
Ukraine: The Center of Severe Riots
April 24, 2014
This article covers a research project that intended to introduce developing events in the Eastern European country of Ukraine, and represented my ability to use multiple sources, as well as my own analysis to cover events that were relevant to students. Covering international news was a challenge as a student reporter, but by explaining background information available on Ukraine, I was able to develop a greater understanding of current events in my article.
The Soviet Union may have fallen over a score of years ago, but the lingering power complex leaks into today’s political environment. Recent developments in the Eastern European country of Ukraine, north of the Black Sea, have worsened the existing tensions in the region. Over a month after a revolution in Ukraine's capital overthrew the government, the country's new leaders have watched Russia claim a region for its own, wage an "information war", and mass an estimated 40,000 troops at the border, all while pro-Russian protests have bloomed in eastern cities, according to The Guardian. The interim government currently operating in Kiev faces the possibility of invasion or civil war, and has tried to prevent both European Union and Russian influence in protests and politics.
This conflict derived from extreme financial issues in Ukraine, as the GDP of the nation has declined in recent years. In the pursuit for financial assistance in 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych avoided interference of the European Union,an unpopular move that eventually lead to an organized political movement known as "Euromaidan." While the movement was successful in removing Yanukovych from power, it brought in greater Russian influence in regions that had supported Viktor Yanukovych, such as Crimea.
In the divided nation, the Western Ukrainians tend to side with the European Union and hope to distance from Russian heritage, whereas the Eastern Ukrainians tend to prefer the a Russian alliance. The involvement of the Russian military in Crimea has now expanded the issue upon the regional power balance, but instead to an international affair, as the United Nations begins to examine policy drafted in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Often a loyal ally to the European Union, the United States is considering all paths of involvement, including diplomatically and militarily, according to White House sources. Political analysts suggest that economic embargoes and sanctions would initiate efforts of change towards Russia, but dominant Congressional leaders such as Majority Leader Embargoes or sanctions would come first, hoping to squeeze change out of countries through economic pressure. But the United States is often rash, and it is highly probable our massive military will be a deciding factor in this situation. To relate to history, the US was late to join many war efforts, including both World Wars. Yet, we were major keys in ending both wars showing that we will be sought upon as allies in this situation. But what if a war does occur? The US will most likely not get involved for a while. Under the Constitution, the powers to determine foreign affairs are shared between the congressional and executive branches. With different parties in control of these branches, and with President Obama in a lame duck presidency, history has set a precedent that unless action is forced, it will most likely come after the 2016 Presidential election, as experts at Politico have analyzed. Ukraine is definitely in hot debate, but the future of US Policy concerning this issue is still undetermined.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/11/ukraine-russia-crimea-sanctions-us-eu-guide-explainer
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/mitch-mcconnell-foreign-policy-105031