The Ukraine Conflict: An Overview
The Ukraine conflict has been a constant part of the geopolitics of Europe since 2014, when the government of President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown. Along with a lot of upheaval and uncertainty, the conflict has had major implications for the country and the international geopolitical atmosphere. It affects the entire region to this day and has entered a new phase in 2021, which could bring more tension and turbulence.
The Origins and Early Development of the Conflict
In the aftermath of President Yanukovych’s ousting, tensions began to mount between Ukraine’s pro-European Union forces and the forces supportive of Russia. Ukraine’s western regions, especially Kiev and Lviv, were the most enthusiastic in supporting the pro-EU stance, while Crimea and Ukraine’s eastern regions had a more pro-Russian sentiment. Ukraine’s internal divisions have often been split along these lines, and it is these deep divisions that fuelled the rise of the Ukrainian conflict.
Fighting and Activism
The fighting between these two factions escalated over the years, with most of the fighting occurring in the Donbass region in the eastern part of the country. The Ukrainian government, the European Union, and Russia all got involved with the crisis in their own ways. The Ukrainian military clashed with pro-Russian militia in eastern Ukraine for several years, causing immense destruction and casualties. Civilian protests, opposition activism, and political divisions have endured and occasionally renewed over the years.
Where Things Stand Today
In 2021, Ukraine is making slow progress toward resolving the conflict, yet things still remain largely unresolved. President Zelensky’s government is attempting to make progress on a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but they have not succeeded yet. For its part, Russia has continued to occupy the Crimean peninsula and has worked to create administrative chaos in eastern Ukraine.
The European Union has encouraged a peaceful resolution to the conflict, monitoring the situation closely and pushing for an end to the fighting. The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have also kept a close eye on the situation, with the U.S. providing support for the Ukrainian government. The conflict has not died down, and further escalations or resumption of serious fighting remain a possibility.
Overall, the crisis in Ukraine has been a protracted and complex conflict. The current state of affairs holds many unresolved issues and could again become a major international flashpoint. With renewed tension and potential for animosity in 2021, the outcome of the Ukraine crisis is, unfortunately, still uncertain.