What's happening in Europe?: A look into the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

The current situation between Russia and Ukraine is one that has been brewing for a while. To completely understand what is going on, we have to go back to when Ukraine won its independence from the USSR back in 1991, when it was dissolved. While they held close ties for a good while after that, things eventually went downhill. This led to a small war between Russia and Ukraine, which led to the annexation of Crimea. Later in December of 2021, Russia made two draft treaties with Ukraine that it would not join NATO, and they would have to lessen the NATO presence in Eastern Europe, which obviously NATO did not like at all. Now, there are as many as 130,000 Russian troops in Belarus, while United States troops are beginning to arrive. 

But why does Russia want Ukraine? Russia has always considered Ukraine part of Russia. Back in 2014 when they annexed Crimea, Russia said they had a historical claim to it. Russian President Vladmir Putin also put out an article talking about how “Russians and Ukrainians were one people.” This is less about the physical land, though, and more about the Russian relationship with NATO. Russia has stated that NATO is aggressive and a threat to Russia, when NATO policy states that “the Alliance does not seek confrontation.” They have constantly had a very poor relationship. 

But why does America care about Russia and the Ukraine? President Biden has gone on to say that the invasion of Ukraine would be, “the most consequential thing that’s happened in the world, in terms of war and peace, since World War II.” These comments come as the U.S. has been strengthening Ukraine, sending more than $400 million in military aid last year, and around $2.5 billion in assistance since 2014. While Biden said the United States will not send troops to help until Russia invades, he has sent troops to neighboring countries such as Poland.

For young Ukrainians, war is not something that is new to them. While interviewing young Ukrainians, there have been a variety of reactions, including people putting money aside and buying non-perishable food and clothing and others not really caring. Many young people would go as far as fleeing if war was to break out so they wouldn’t have to fight. It is likely that young men would be drafted if conflict broke out, but the younger generation has been less willing to fight than their parents, which could lead to major problems.

By Andrew Schwartz