Well, did you hear? The game RISK exists in real life. Ukraine and Russia are in a fight and everyone’s involved. It’s referred to as the Ukraine crisis.
In 2015, Russia is seeing financial woes because at the end of 2014, other countries put sanctions (penalties) against Russia, and Russia did the same.
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Russia took some of Ukraine’s land – Crimea, a small island in southern Ukraine.
BACKGROUND
In late 2013, Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych chose a deal with Russia over a deal with the EU to help strengthen Ukraine’s weak economy. Some Ukrainians were not happy with this. Mass protests and violence and swept through Ukraine. During this unrest, in Spring 2014, Russia took control of Crimea.
Tension between the two countries grew when in July 2014, a Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down in Ukraine, killing almost 300 passengers. Immediately, Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels pointed the finger at each other.
The US, EU and other countries have been trying to work it out with Ukraine and Russia before things get worse.
Ukrainians are mad Russia took their land. Some also disagree with taking a Russian deal over an EU deal. On the other hand, some Ukrainians are for it – there is a significant ethnic Russian population in Ukraine, especially in Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is obviously happy with having new land. He signed a treaty annexing Crimea and says it is now Russia’s. Some Russians agree with this and some don’t – check out various other Russian views here.
A common Western view sees Russia as a bully who wants control of that land.
Definition
Western, or western world: “a term referring to different nations depending on the context” – Wikipedia, but loosely “relating to the countries of North America and Western Europe” – Merriam-Webster
However, others question the Western agenda behind this view. Dig deeper on the next tab.
Pro-western view / US and others’ view: Many in the Western world say it’s a power play for Russia. Russia wants more countries on its side, and less on the Western side. By taking Crimea, it could be closer to getting Ukraine on its side.
Other world view: Others in the world say it’s a power play from the western world:
– They don’t want Russia getting too strong.
– NATO and the EU are trying to expand so they want Ukraine to partner up with them for trade, not Russia.
– The US is trying to weaken ties between the EU and Russia. Some go further, saying the US is trying to create fear of Russia starting a new Cold War aka. attacking and taking control of other eastern European countries.
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Russia’s view: Russia has historic ties to Crimea – and even had control of it in the past. That’s why the land is important to them.
Others’ view: Crimea is of strategic importance since it gives sea access to a very landlocked Russia. Russia has even had an agreement to keep a naval base there.
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US and others’ view: With control of Crimea, Russia gets a big chunk of the Black Sea around it. Some say that means high potential for future oil.
Russia’s view: The Russian government says that doesn’t matter, Russia is already a huge oil king.
US and others’ view: Many don’t believe what Russia says – it’s a big win not just because of potential oil but because:
– It takes away Ukraine’s potential for energy independence and leaves Ukraine more vulnerable to Russia.
– Russia’s plan to build the South Stream oil pipeline becomes cheaper by going directly through the area they just annexed instead of a roundabout route. (The South Stream pipeline would bypass Ukraine to deliver oil to the rest of Europe, Europe being a big chunk of Russia’s oil revenue. Then, Russia doesn’t have to depend on Ukraine as much.)
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Russia’s and Others’ view: Russia and some others say the US is trying to destroy ties between the EU and Russia so Europe will look to buy US oil/natural gas instead of Russia’s.
US view: Some in the US say energy (oil/natural gas) would be a good geopolitical tool for the US against Russia. In any case, the US isn’t exactly ready for that yet:
– US policies need to change to allow it – there is a current ban on oil exports.
– Plants aren’t ready yet (sometime in 2015) – the US currently exports no natural gas.
– There have been heated debates about fracking. See The Dangers of Fracking infographic.
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Viktor Yanukovych, then-president of Ukraine, chose a deal with Russia over the EU, igniting mass protests and unrest. With Ukraine in turmoil, Russia came in and took control of Crimea. So now, Ukraine and Russia are in a fight. There are many speculations why Russia wanted that land and why other countries are getting involved.
Will Ukraine get Crimea back? Will the fight escalate or be resolved?
WANT MORE?
An interesting take from The Atlantic: Putin’s Playbook: The Strategy Behind Russia’s Takeover of Crimea.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html?_r=0
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/09/13/378626/us-seeks-to-cut-russiaeu-trade-ties/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/03/10/the-ukraine-crisis-is-bolstering-americas-oil-and-gas-boom/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/25/us-usa-oil-exports-idUSKCN0J92GG20141125
http://www.dangersoffracking.com/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/03/putins-playbook-the-strategy-behind-russias-takeover-of-crimea/284154/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/07/ukraine-russia-crimea-naval-base-tatars-explainer
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/what-real-russians-think-about-ukraine-crisis-n76891
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/malaysia-airlines-plane-disappears-over-ukraine-feared-shot-down-by-missile/2014/07/17/0fffe1e6-0dcb-11e4-8341-b8072b1e7348_story.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-plane-crash
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/europes-gas-supply-ukraine-crisis-russsia-pipelines
http://clevermove.tumblr.com/post/55708593988/truejunx-ukraine-this-may-be-the-best-use-of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions_during_the_Ukrainian_crisis
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-11-10/how-close-is-russia-to-financial-crisis
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11296233/Russian-economic-crisis-live.html
http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ukraine-russia-crimea-map.pnghttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/westernhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world
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