Teetering on War
“We are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders”
-Barack Obama
We’re currently faced with one of the most serious diplomatic crises to arise between the West and Russia since the Cold War, and yet, so many Americans choose to remain ignorant.
Scroll any major news outlet and the headlines reflect months of protests, bloody streets, and strong voices in Ukraine, military threats by Russia, and political posturing by world leaders in hopes of avoiding a major war. As a global citizen, there are things you need to know about the current crises. When former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced the decision to abandon an agreement with the EU and instead, seek closer ties to Russia - the protests began. Protesters died, politicians resigned, Yanukovych fled for Russia, and an interim government took hold in Ukraine. Then the pro-Russian protests began in Crimea (a peninsula on the Black Sea with 60% ethnic Russian citizens), Putin ordered military action in Crimea, citing anti-Russian sentiments and the need to protect ethnic Russians from supposed threats. Ukraine insists that Putin is using this as an excuse to take control of the region. Lawmakers in Crimea are pushing to abandon Ukraine and instead, join Russia while global leaders call the decision illegitimate. Obama has spoken as well, bringing to the forefront strict tensions between the U.S. and Russia, and commenting on the Crimea tension. “Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine... we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders”, stated Obama.
Still, as a threat of war looms, Americans are busy on social media, making shallow comparisons of President Obama with Putin, and failing to recognize the seriousness of global political turmoil. Yet, dizzying emergency meetings are being held to make agreements, visa restrictions and economic sanctions, and armed men continue to take control of the streets with frightening threats of military action.
Climax
“You Know, from
one side Kiev is a European city with modern architecture, and from the other side it is still a post-soviet union city. I’m just trying to show the world as Kiev looks in reality. It’s Really
beautiful and scary at the same time...doing streets in Kiev is a bit of a challenge for me- I just keep my Iphone with Hipstamatic open and look for a candid moment.
