Putins Aggression in Ukraine - 854 Words

Had Obama not turned a blind eye in Syria Could Putin invade Ukraine? While Mr. Putin’s vanguard military apparatus was taking over Crimea, Syria’s self styled hitherto President Bashar Assad was writing a letter of congratulation for Vladimir Putin’s â€Å"wise policy† and his efforts to restore â€Å"security and stability† in Kiev after an â€Å"attempted coup† by â€Å"terrorist extremists.† What is happening in Crimea today mirrors what has happened and unceasingly happening in Syria with multiplied brutality. Russia’s military involvement in Crimea shouldn’t come as a surprise to the US or the west at large. The European Union and the United States have wanted Ukraine to tilt into their geopolitical axis, but, alike with Syria, they wanted it at a discount rate and hence now it is too late. President Obama has said Putin will pay a price. Kerry has spoken of a â€Å"huge price.† But, a Russian president who can poison the then president of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, who happily sends advanced missiles to the Assad regime, even while the Syrian army pulverizes cities, is not a man who can easily be threatened by mere words. Indecisiveness generally seduces Mr. Putin into a cynical aggression, for he worships power and detests weakness. Vladimir Putin’s obsession is the restoration of Russia’s pride through the restoration of its lost empire. He is an apparatchik who still thinks that the fall of the Soviet Union was the â€Å"greatest geopolitical catastrophe† of 20th century. Putin simply does notShow MoreRelatedWhat Is The Threat Of Russian Power?1386 Words   |  6 Pagesthreats in nations in Russia’s immediate vicinity within Eastern Europe. Thanks to its geographic convenience, ethnic cultural connections, and political history, Eastern Europe, including and especially the Baltic nations, is a natural candidate for Putin’s ongoing quest to expand his sphere of influence and demonstrate the might of Russian power. Importantly, for Russia, the very real strategic importance of the Eastern European region is equaled by its symbolic importance. It is a region that is comingRead MoreThe Issue Of Nuclear Weapons883 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1994, Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear weapons to become a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. By 1996, all 5,000 of them were removed from its borders and disassembled in Russia. Today, Eastern Ukraine is under attack by Russian forces. This paper will explore the extent that nuclear weapons could have played in affecting Russia’s decision to carry out its invasion of sovereign Ukrainian territory. To begin, it should be understood that this analysis focuses on alternative possibilitiesRead MoreThe Crisis Of Russia And Ukraine1343 Words   |  6 PagesIn the 2008 Bucharest Summit, the Allies agreed that Georgia and Ukraine will possibly become members of NATO; NATO stated on their topic of enlargement that their doors were open for Ukraine. On November 30th, 2013, protest erupts after Ukrainian President Yanukovych rejects deal with the European Union (News, 2013). Approximately, 10,000 demonstrators carrying the EU flag protested in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev; it was clear Yanukovych was pressured by Russia to reject this deal. Yanukovych arguedRead MoreTaking a Look at the Russian-Ukraine Conflict818 Words   |  3 Pagescondemn and denounce their corrupt government and to question their Presidents legitimacy. This pushed an already fractured society into the streets of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine to protest their disapproval. In response President Yanukovych ordered r iot police and military personnel to move into cities throughout Ukraine in order to squash any dissent. Clashes between opposition and the government slowly escalated over a two month period, in February the death toll for protesters in the cityRead MoreUkraine crisis briefing paper1570 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Briefing paper. Should Russia expand beyond Crimea and further into Ukraine. Introduction. Tension in Ukraine began to rise when then the president Viktor Yanukovych rejected a deal proposed by the European Union regarding trade agreements. Late last year when this deal was in consideration, Viktor Yanukovych began to express his doubts in the final stages about signing the trade agreement. For everyone in Ukraine it was clear that Vladimir Putin pressured Viktor Yanukovych so much that essentiallyRead MoreThe Cyclical Nature Of The Conflict Of Ukraine1782 Words   |  8 PagesCyclical Nature of the Conflict in Ukraine With increased globalization and various other factors of modern society, imperialistic behaviors exhibited by world powers have become incredibly uncommon. Most nations now stand independent, and establishing alliances and trade deals is far preferable to overtaking smaller, weaker nations. That being said, a rare and fairly prominent case of imperialism is taking place in the Russia/Ukraine dispute of the past year. Ukraine has struggled with corruption inRead MoreNational Security Requires a Clear Acknowledgement of the Shifting of Power and Peace1061 Words   |  4 Pageswell, we must be aware of the more nefarious motives of nations for whom state intervention is merely a thin veil for imperialistic ambitions. With this, we consider the recent events in Ukraine and its impact on our national security. Brief History of Ukraine An independent country embroiled in civil war, Ukraine fell prey to attack from Soviet forces in 1921. The acquisition of the eastern two thirds of the state by Russia was considered â€Å"crucial...to the formation of the Soviet Union† (ConantRead MoreRussian And Post Soviet Politics2360 Words   |  10 PagesCrimea and their ongoing military involvement in Ukraine. Most recently, in March of 2014, President Obama authorized Executive Order 13661. It states that, â€Å"under the national emergency with respect to Ukraine that find that the actions and policies of the Russian government with respect to Ukraine – including through the deployment of Russian military forces in the Crimea region of Ukraine – undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereigntyRead MoreConflict Between Russia And Russia1693 Words   |  7 Pages Sovereignty in the Ukraine For the Ukraine, the past year has been filled with numerous conflicts, both internal and external. Internally, the Ukraine is dealing with a split nation consisting of pro-Europeans in the west and pro-Russians in the east. Most of the internal violence comes from the pro-Russian rebels using militant force to occupy cities near the Russian border, while the Ukrainian forces fight to keep hold of these cities (â€Å"Ukraine in maps: How the crisis spread†). While most ofRead MoreTerrorism And Terrorism715 Words   |  3 Pagesfactor of seven. Since 2011, a new set of complicated challenges have emerged, forcing NATO to embrace a new approach to global security. Russia’s encroachments in Crimea, support of separatists in Ukraine, and cyber-assaults on member nations have signaled a resurrection of Soviet-era aggression. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has plunged large swaths of the Middle East into chaos: fighters have beheaded Western journalists, destroyed ancient ruins, enslaved women, massacred religious