With the conflict in Ukraine developing more and more each day, confusion can easily arise. The answers to these 10 quick questions aim to help you in your understanding of current events.
1. Where is Ukraine?
Ukraine is a former Soviet Union state located in Eastern Europe. Home to over 44 million people, the country is bordered by Russia to the East and Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the West. As of 2001, the two main ethnic groups found within the country have been identified as Ukrainian (77.8%) and Russian (17.3%).
2. Where is Crimea?
Crimea is a peninsula located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. Though governed by its own constitution, Crimea is considered to be a part of Ukraine and abides by its laws and regulations. Home to over 2 million people, this area is primarily dominated by those of Russian ethnicity. The territory has been an area of conflict recently due to the perceived illegal election of Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Akysyonov, and the subsequent occupation by Russian forces.
3. Who is Viktor Yanukovych?
Viktor Yanukovych was the President of Ukraine until he was removed from his position by the Ukrainian Parliament late last month. Known for his close ties with Russia, Yanukovych has been accused of a variety of serious misconducts including corruption and the death of numerous protestors. Though currently ousted from the capital, Yanukovych maintains that he is the legitimate leader of Ukraine and continues to assert his authority.
4. Who is Yulia Tymoshenko?
Yulia Tymoshenko is the former Prime Minister of Ukraine. Most commonly known for her role in the Orange Revolution of 2004 that denied Yanukovych his first bid at presidency, Tymoshenko was jailed in 2010 after she was charged with corruption. She was released last month following a vote by Parliament, and is now considered by many to be a viable candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
5. How did the conflict start?
Though the exact origins of the recent conflict can be debated, it is commonly argued that, after growing discontent over perceived governmental corruption and the failing economy, the conflict in Ukraine came to a head following Yanukovych’s decision to forgo a deal with the European Union in favour of one offered by Russia. This angered many Ukrainians who had desired to go with the options offered by the European Union, and cemented a divide in society between those who support Ukraine’s place in Europe and those who prefer to see it remain connected with its historical Russian ties.
6. Why is Russia so interested in Ukraine?
There are many reasons Russia asserts such an interest in Ukraine. As the country that connects the large Russian territory to the desirable markets of Europe, Ukraine contains a majority of the pipelines that transport Russia’s natural gas to its foreign markets. This, combined with the fact that Ukraine is formally a member of the Soviet Union and therefore a key area of concern, gives Russia an invested interest in the control of the region. If Ukraine was to move towards closer ties with the European Union this could lead to economic losses for the Russians, as well as a perceived lack of Russian political domination.
7. What are the possible outcomes of this situation?
Though any sort of outcome cannot be asserted due to the ongoing nature of this conflict, there are many possible outcomes currently under consideration. Scholars and reporters alike have been discussing possibilities such as the separation of Ukraine, a full-scale Russian invasion, the election of a new government, as well as the return of Yanukovych. These, however, are all only possibilities at this current time and should only be considered as such.
8. What is the Canadian Government’s stance on the issue?
Prime Minister Harper and the Parliament of Canada have insisted that they are on the side of the Ukrainians. The Canadian Government have stated that they are monitoring the situation closely and have reported that they are discussing with Ukrainian officials about further action. Recently Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird recently took a very public stance on the issue, comparing the Russian invasion of the Crimean Peninsula to the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia during World War Two.
9. How is Justin Trudeau tied to this?
In a recent pre-recorded show of Radio-Canada’s Tout le monde en parle, Justin Trudeau made an inappropriate comment tying the conflict in Ukraine to Russia’s recent loss in the Winter Olympic Hockey Tournament. Viewed as many to be ill-timed and insensitive, Trudeau was criticized by many for making light of an extremely brutal situation. The current leader of the Liberal Party went on to make a full apology for his comments.
10. What can we expect in the coming days?
The next few days will be focused on the actions of the Russians in Crimea, as well as the reactions of Ukraine. Further coverage will be given to ongoing political debates in Kiev, and one can expect to see countries such as the United States and Canada deciding whether or not to take further action on the matter.
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