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It’s obvious that the United States of America and Russia have not always seen eye to eye, and have been involved in dozens of conflicts throughout history, but until recently, the two have been getting along relatively well. In the past few months, another revolution started in the country of Ukraine, and has caught the attention of the masses.
The Ukrainian central government has decided to adopt a more “Western” form of government with which to run the country. However, several areas of Ukraine, more specifically the Crimean Peninsula, are protesting this new type of government, and are rallying against Ukrainian officials, pushing for a revolution.
Russian president, Vladimir Putin has gone to the trouble of deploying Russian troops in to assist the revolutionaries, claiming that Ukraine was making “absolutely illegitimate decisions on the eastern, southeastern, and Crimean regions.”
The Russian troops are aiming to take the Crimean Peninsula from the central government of Ukraine, and have it assimilated back into Russia. Putin and Obama have spoken by phone to discuss what will be done about Ukraine, and it is obvious that the two nations do not see eye to eye.
In response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, the U.S. has issued sanctions, including a ban on U.S. Visa cards owned by Ukrainian and Russian officials who are seen to be behind the unrest.
Further steps in response to Russia’s intervention include a cancellation of military consultations, talks on trade and commercial ties with Russia. A senior administration official spoke that more “powerful financial sanctions on individuals and entities,” which the U.S. government has deemed to be associated with Ukrainian civil unrest, are in order for the future.
In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the U.S. against making “hasty and reckless steps” that could potentially cause a great deal of harm to Russian-American relations. The foreign ministry also added that the sanctions the U.S. imposed “would inevitably hit the United States like a boomerang.”
As is obvious, relations between Russia and the U.S. have become somewhat hostile at this point, and many people agree that the two countries are coming dangerously close to starting a second Cold War.
Although Putin and many other Russian figures have said they don’t want to become involved in a major confrontation with the Western world despite the “extremely deep disagreements,” it hasn’t stopped people from speculating. Some informed Madison City School students gave their two cents.
“Sadly, the decision Putin has forced upon us can only end in war,” says senior Brendan Romanczuk. “The ball is in the U.S. and E.U.’s court. Hopefully we start playing with a full team.” Senior David Horn stated that nothing “significant will come from the conflict besides Crimea being annexed by Russia,” and that “it’s pretty much just Cold War Part 2 at this point.”
It is unclear what the next move will be, and who will be making it, but as senior Shannon Lambert says, “The only thing we can do now is wait it out. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.”
