The Crisis Between Russia and Ukraine:

The Discord of Two Countries

Since 2014, Russia and Ukraine have been in a state of discord due to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia is supporting the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine and the crisis has caused a diplomatic and economic conflict between the two countries. This has led to both countries implementing sanctions on each other, and has resulted in tensions between Russia and the western countries, with NATO and the European Union closely monitoring the situation.

The Disputed Territories in the Conflict

The contested territories in the conflict include Crimea, a peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea, and eastern Ukraine, which is a region divided into two provinces, the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. Crimea was historically part of Russia but was incorporated into Ukraine during the Soviet era. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the peninsula became part of Ukraine and in 2014, Putin and the Russian government moved to annex the territory, which was widely considered to be a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law. The separatist movement in eastern Ukraine, while heavily supported by the Russian government, is not as widely accepted by the people of eastern Ukraine who have family and friends in other parts of the region.

The Sanctions Imposed on Russia

In response to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the western countries, led by the United States and the European Union, have imposed economic sanctions on Russia. The sanctions are intended to put pressure on the Russian government to end its support for the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine, but they have had a significant economic impact on the Russian economy. The sanctions have caused Russian GDP to shrink and have led to an increase in inflation, unemployment, and poverty in the country.

Conclusion

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused significant tension between the two countries and has impacted the lives of many people in both countries. While the conflict is showing no sign of coming to an end anytime soon, the western countries have been attempting to de-escalate the situation by putting pressure on the Russian government to end its support for the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine. The conflict has also had an economic impact on both countries, with the western sanctions on Russia resulting in an economic downturn in the country.