Katelynn Singleton, news editor
Over the last three and a half months, tensions between Ukraine and Russia have been escalating. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as the European Union (EU) have begun imposing sanctions on Russia to discourage their increasing aggression towards Ukraine.
Relations between the two countries have been strained for years, starting in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea. Annexation is the seizure of a territory by another state. Crimea is located on the peninsula of Ukraine, and many countries today still consider it to be occupied Ukrainian territory. As a result of the annexation, protests led by pro-Russian separatist groups began in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. These groups were backed by Russian troops, and have established two rebel republics, the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, that any other country is yet to recognize.
On Feb. 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. This will allow the separatist leaders to request military aid from Russia, which could be seen by Ukraine and their supporters as an invasion of Ukraine. On Feb. 22, Putin received approval from the Russian Parliament to use military force, and although no formal declaration of action has been declared, it has been said that Moscow may send “peacekeepers” to the area. Russian forces have already been seen on Ukrainian territory.
John Hickman, a professor of international affairs, said that issues regarding territory have always been an issue for countries. After the Cold War, there have been numerous instances of territorial annexations, making the attempts by Russia less unique than one would think. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has been striving to rebuild and reestablish itself as a world power.
“The effort since then by Putin has been to rebuild the Russian sphere of influence,” Hickman said. “It’s an effort to build, not the Russian Empire, not the Soviet Union, but something that parallels that.”
Professor of International Affairs Kirsten Taylor said that following the end of the Cold War, Ukraine has been making strides to turn westward. After the end of the Cold War, NATO has continually extended eastward, closer to Russia’s borders. Parts of Ukraine have also expressed interest in joining NATO and the EU.
“Russia argues that Ukraine, historically, was part of Russia, and so they view that as unsatisfactory to have that territory in NATO,” Taylor said. “One of the things Russia wants is for the United States and NATO to say, ‘No, Ukraine will not join NATO,’ but they’re not going to say that.”
Multiple countries have implemented sanctions and have tried to use diplomacy to dissuade Putin from action in Ukraine. Taylor said that the United States has been providing Ukraine military aid to ensure Ukraine is in a better position to combat Russian intervention. Additionally, multiple countries have threatened new sanctions should Russia invade. NATO has threatened to act should an invasion of Ukraine occur.
“I think [the United States is] trying a lot of different angles,” Taylor said.
Multiple European leaders have denounced Russia’s actions, and imposed various sanctions. This past Tuesday, Germany announced they would place a hold on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The pipeline would provide natural gas from Russia to Germany, who is the largest consumer of Russian natural gas. The British government announced a sanction on members of the Russian parliament who voted to recognize the separatist states.
Addison Howard, a sophomore communications major who has been interested in the current conflict, said that he supports the current sanctions by other countries, as well as any sanctions the US may make.
“The sanctions in process against Russia will help, but [Putin]’s pretty much determined to invade Kiev,” Howard said. “As much as I hate to see the US continue any foreign involvement, I do think it’s important we support our allies who have already said they will back Ukraine.”
President Joe Biden announced in a public speech this past Tuesday that the United States is imposing “full blocking” on two Russian financial institutions and sanctions on Russian debt. Biden said that the Russian government will no longer be able to trade on Western markets. Russian elites will also face sanctions. Biden also said that should Russia escalate in aggression, the U.S. would respond with harsher sanctions.