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Vladimir Putin then invaded, with militia and soldiers seizing Crimean parliamentary buildings and installing a pro-Russian prime minister; a referendum to [[secede]] from Ukraine (widely renounced as a sham<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/in-crimeas-sham-referendum-all-questions-lead-to-yes/article17396854/ In Crimea’s sham referendum, all questions lead to ‘yes’], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>) passed by 95% on March 16.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/crimea-votes-to-leave-ukraine-in-secession-referendum-and-join-russia-1.2574719 Crimea votes to leave Ukraine in secession referendum and join Russia], CBC</ref> By April, separatists stirring shit up in the rest of the country were able to establish an insurgency in the easternmost oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk (collectively known as the Donbass). | Vladimir Putin then invaded, with militia and soldiers seizing Crimean parliamentary buildings and installing a pro-Russian prime minister; a referendum to [[secede]] from Ukraine (widely renounced as a sham<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/in-crimeas-sham-referendum-all-questions-lead-to-yes/article17396854/ In Crimea’s sham referendum, all questions lead to ‘yes’], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>) passed by 95% on March 16.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/crimea-votes-to-leave-ukraine-in-secession-referendum-and-join-russia-1.2574719 Crimea votes to leave Ukraine in secession referendum and join Russia], CBC</ref> By April, separatists stirring shit up in the rest of the country were able to establish an insurgency in the easternmost oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk (collectively known as the Donbass). | ||
| − | Long story short: on June 27, the crisis went full-circle with the newly-elected Petro Poroshenko signing the Association Agreement (alongside [[Georgia#Other uses|Georgia]] and [[Moldova]]),<ref>[http://www.dw.de/ukraine-takes-one-step-closer-to-eu/a-17737239 Ukraine takes one step closer to EU], Deutsche Welle</ref> the rebels managed to [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17|shoot down a civilian airliner]], and once it was clear the Ukrainian army would succeed in a bloody summer counter-offensive, over 3000 Russian troops moved into the Donbass on August 28.<ref>[http://nationalinterest.org/feature/mr-putin’s-war—-why-he-continues-deny-it-11205?page=show Mr. Putin’s War—And Why He Continues to Deny It], ''The National Interest''</ref> | + | Long story short: on June 27, the crisis went full-circle with the newly-elected Petro Poroshenko signing the Association Agreement (alongside [[Georgia#Other uses|Georgia]] and [[Moldova]]),<ref>[http://www.dw.de/ukraine-takes-one-step-closer-to-eu/a-17737239 Ukraine takes one step closer to EU], Deutsche Welle</ref> the rebels managed to [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17|shoot down a civilian airliner]], and once it was clear the Ukrainian army would succeed in a bloody summer counter-offensive, over 3000 Russian troops moved into the Donbass on August 28, which Putin still denies.<ref>[http://nationalinterest.org/feature/mr-putin’s-war—-why-he-continues-deny-it-11205?page=show Mr. Putin’s War—And Why He Continues to Deny It], ''The National Interest''</ref> |
The problem is that this entire escapade doesn't really ''make any sense'' in the long-term for the Kremlin (both at the cost of supplying the areas and global [[geopolitical]] risks),<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/03/06/is-crimean-independence-or-annexation-a-good-outcome-for-russia/ Is Crimean independence or annexation a good outcome for Russia?] ''Washington Post''</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/03/04/the-failure-of-the-reset-obamas-great-mistake-or-putinss/ The ‘failure’ of the ‘reset:’ Obama’s great mistake? Or Putin’s?], ''Washington Post''</ref> leading some to speculate that Putin may be losing it.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/world/europe/russias-move-into-ukraine-said-to-be-born-in-shadows.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0 Russia’s Move Into Ukraine Said to Be Born in Shadows], ''The New York Times''</ref><ref>[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116852/merkel-was-right-putins-lost-his-mind-press-conference Putin's Press Conference Proved Merkel Right: He's Lost His Mind], ''The New Republic''</ref> In the words of one writer, a new [[Cold War]] "would instantly destroy Russia before it even began in earnest."<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/crimea-is-serious-but-this-not-a-new-cold-war/article17490293/ Crimea is serious, but this is not a new Cold War], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref> Even [[China]], at a time when Putin desperately needs allies, has been <s>partying</s><ref>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/the-only-winner-in-ukraine-is-china/505412.html The Only Winner in Ukraine is China], ''The Moscow Times''</ref> ...ahem, notably silent.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-ukraine-crisis-china-idUSBREA2P0KU20140326 China says it supports international financial aid for Ukraine], Reuters</ref><ref>[http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/03/the-worlds-post-crimea-power-blocs-mapped/359835/ The World's Post-Crimea Power Blocs, Mapped], ''The Atlantic'' ([http://ajw.asahi.com/article/forum/politics_and_economy/east_asia/AJ201403170046 Here's why.])</ref> | The problem is that this entire escapade doesn't really ''make any sense'' in the long-term for the Kremlin (both at the cost of supplying the areas and global [[geopolitical]] risks),<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/03/06/is-crimean-independence-or-annexation-a-good-outcome-for-russia/ Is Crimean independence or annexation a good outcome for Russia?] ''Washington Post''</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/03/04/the-failure-of-the-reset-obamas-great-mistake-or-putinss/ The ‘failure’ of the ‘reset:’ Obama’s great mistake? Or Putin’s?], ''Washington Post''</ref> leading some to speculate that Putin may be losing it.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/world/europe/russias-move-into-ukraine-said-to-be-born-in-shadows.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0 Russia’s Move Into Ukraine Said to Be Born in Shadows], ''The New York Times''</ref><ref>[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116852/merkel-was-right-putins-lost-his-mind-press-conference Putin's Press Conference Proved Merkel Right: He's Lost His Mind], ''The New Republic''</ref> In the words of one writer, a new [[Cold War]] "would instantly destroy Russia before it even began in earnest."<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/crimea-is-serious-but-this-not-a-new-cold-war/article17490293/ Crimea is serious, but this is not a new Cold War], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref> Even [[China]], at a time when Putin desperately needs allies, has been <s>partying</s><ref>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/the-only-winner-in-ukraine-is-china/505412.html The Only Winner in Ukraine is China], ''The Moscow Times''</ref> ...ahem, notably silent.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-ukraine-crisis-china-idUSBREA2P0KU20140326 China says it supports international financial aid for Ukraine], Reuters</ref><ref>[http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/03/the-worlds-post-crimea-power-blocs-mapped/359835/ The World's Post-Crimea Power Blocs, Mapped], ''The Atlantic'' ([http://ajw.asahi.com/article/forum/politics_and_economy/east_asia/AJ201403170046 Here's why.])</ref> | ||
Revision as of 00:41, 6 September 2014
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, near the ill-defined border with Asia; its capital, Kiev (or Kyiv) is considered the key hub of East Slavic culture.[1][2] Once part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine is a potential candidate member of the European Union, although the common Eastern Bloc levels of corruption and economic underdevelopment would be a large hurdle before that even without the internal and external political clusterfuck omnishambles that developed in 2014.
Due to a quirk of geography, most of the natural gas Russia sells to Europe passes through Ukraine. Sometimes Russia tries to punish Ukraine for being in arrears on their gas payments by cutting the flow of gas to Ukraine, but then Ukraine makes up the shortfall from the gas that was supposed to go to Germany, forcing Russia to cut off the gas altogether in the middle of the winter.[3] And France just laughs, because 90% of their energy comes from nuclear power.
Ukraine also has the dubious distinction of having to redo their 2005 presidential election because of widespread fraud; during this campaign the eventual winner, Viktor Yushchenko, suffered one of the most acute cases of dioxin poisoning ever recorded.[4] Russia was blamed for all of this, as is the usual in Ukraine.[5]
Contents |
Euromaidan, Crimean crisis and further Russian dickery
“”Putin as Heisenberg: Mother Russia, deathly ill, is breaking bad, cooks the meth of irredentism to protect her children across the border.
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| —Strobe Talbott |
Ukraine was about to sign an Association Agreement with the EU, but Victor Yanukovych (Yushchenko's former opponent, who was elected in 2010) cancelled preparations for it on November 21, 2013, causing a wave of protests known by a Twitter hashtag, Euromaidan (a portmanteau of "Europe" and Maidan Nezalezhnosti, translated as "Independence Square," the main square of Kiev). The situation escalated — every attempt at forcibly suppressing the protests caused them to intensify. As demonstrators occupied government buildings, clashes between protesters and riot police backed up by Berkut special forces led to snipers killing protesters and opposition activists.[7] Ultimately, Yanukovych signed a compromise deal to restore the 2004 constitution on February 21[8] and then fled without formally resigning his post, leaving Chicken Kiev fans jubilant. He has since reappeared in Russia, maintaining that he is still the legitimate President of Ukraine and that his removal was an illegal coup d'état. You can bet some Ukrainian hryvnias (and a galleon[9]) what's the position of Russia.
Ukraine was not undivided in its opposition to Yanukovych's government. As a general rule, the protests received more support in the western parts of Ukraine, while the more pro-Russian eastern parts, which also contain more ethnic Russians, saw counter-protests in support of Yanukovych and even open calls to sedition joining Russia. One of the peaks of these sentiments was the Autonomous Republic of Crimea: its "special status" city of Sevastopol includes a major sea port and a Russian naval base.[10]
The situation got worse after Yanukovych's re-emergence in Russia. Inter-ethnic tensions were exacerbated by an attempt by the Ukrainian parliament to repeal a controversial 2012 law on regional languages[11] that in effect had made Russian the official language in regions recognized as predominantly Russian. The acting President vetoed the repeal, but the damage was already done.
Vladimir Putin then invaded, with militia and soldiers seizing Crimean parliamentary buildings and installing a pro-Russian prime minister; a referendum to secede from Ukraine (widely renounced as a sham[12]) passed by 95% on March 16.[13] By April, separatists stirring shit up in the rest of the country were able to establish an insurgency in the easternmost oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk (collectively known as the Donbass).
Long story short: on June 27, the crisis went full-circle with the newly-elected Petro Poroshenko signing the Association Agreement (alongside Georgia and Moldova),[14] the rebels managed to shoot down a civilian airliner, and once it was clear the Ukrainian army would succeed in a bloody summer counter-offensive, over 3000 Russian troops moved into the Donbass on August 28, which Putin still denies.[15]
The problem is that this entire escapade doesn't really make any sense in the long-term for the Kremlin (both at the cost of supplying the areas and global geopolitical risks),[16][17] leading some to speculate that Putin may be losing it.[18][19] In the words of one writer, a new Cold War "would instantly destroy Russia before it even began in earnest."[20] Even China, at a time when Putin desperately needs allies, has been partying[21] ...ahem, notably silent.[22][23]
The
Ukraine is sometimes called "the Ukraine," which annoys the Ukrainians, although this practice is dying out.[24] The reason for this is said to be that Ukraine comes from a Slavic word corresponding to "frontier" or "borderland" — hence the ukraine ("the borderland"). A similar division manifests as Russians prefer using "на Украине" (on the Ukraine) instead of "в Украине" (in Ukraine). It's a manufactroversy, really.
See also
External links
- A dog tries to sing the Ukranian national anthem
- Everything you wanted to know about Ukraine but were too afraid to ask
- What can history teach us about the unrest in Ukraine? and Ukraine and Russia's History Wars (discussing the frequent bitch-fighting by Ukrainians and Russians about what part of Slavic history is actually theirs)
- Let's slow roll any moves toward Crimean War II
- What Would a Russian Invasion of Ukraine Look Like? and Fleet Weak (tl;dr: Putin's a fucking moron.)
- Eurosceptics, yes, this is partly your fault.
Footnotes
- ↑ The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, Cambridge University Press
- ↑ Visiting Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and a cradle of Russian culture, Washington Post
- ↑ It can't really do it anymore.
- ↑ Yushchenko Dioxin Level Off Charts, CBS News
- ↑ Most likely true, in this case.
- ↑ This chart is great news for Ukraine, bad news for Putin, Vox
- ↑ Note to politicians: if one of your country's most important monuments turns into this under your watch, say sweet goodbye to your career.
- ↑ Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis in Ukraine - full text, The Guardian
- ↑ Ukranian Protesters Invade President Yanukovych’s Lavish Estate, Find Private Zoo, New York Magazine (And more!)
- ↑ Think of it as a Eastern European Guantanamo.
- ↑ How controversial? It caused a fistfight in the parliament. (See the Wikipedia article on Legislation on languages in Ukraine.)
- ↑ In Crimea’s sham referendum, all questions lead to ‘yes’, The Globe and Mail
- ↑ Crimea votes to leave Ukraine in secession referendum and join Russia, CBC
- ↑ Ukraine takes one step closer to EU, Deutsche Welle
- ↑ Mr. Putin’s War—And Why He Continues to Deny It, The National Interest
- ↑ Is Crimean independence or annexation a good outcome for Russia? Washington Post
- ↑ The ‘failure’ of the ‘reset:’ Obama’s great mistake? Or Putin’s?, Washington Post
- ↑ Russia’s Move Into Ukraine Said to Be Born in Shadows, The New York Times
- ↑ Putin's Press Conference Proved Merkel Right: He's Lost His Mind, The New Republic
- ↑ Crimea is serious, but this is not a new Cold War, The Globe and Mail
- ↑ The Only Winner in Ukraine is China, The Moscow Times
- ↑ China says it supports international financial aid for Ukraine, Reuters
- ↑ The World's Post-Crimea Power Blocs, Mapped, The Atlantic (Here's why.)
- ↑ Why Did "The Ukraine" Become Just "Ukraine"?, Mental Floss