Finding a solution to the tensions between Ukraine and Russia is becoming more and more complicated and is worrying the international community.
Last Monday, Russia recognized the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic, which since 2014 have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists, but are still seen by Ukraine as part of its territory.
Both points are part of the Donbas region, in eastern Ukraine, and bordering Russia, where in eight years of armed conflict more than 14,000 people have died and now it is feared that it could provoke an armed conflict in Europe as is not seen since the Second World War, although the international community intends that it should not go that far.
Russia has already approved sending troops to the new republics to “keep the peace.”
The problem in this region began in 2014 when the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych fell after protests against the paralysis of the rapprochement to be part of the European Union (EU) and therefore the European common market, something that Russia does not I agreed.
After that event, pro-Russian separatists took over Donetsk and Lugansk to declare their independence, and according to Kiev, Moscow has provided aid to the rebels.
As for why Russia has such an interest in the fate of these ‘republics’ in Donbas, it is because they are in the rust belt of Ukraine and border with Russia. This area, according to BBC, is rich in minerals, mainly steel. In addition to being an access route to Crimea, the peninsula that rebelled against Kiev, also in 2014, and was later annexed by Russia, although Kiev does not recognize that decision.
The reason Russia is so interested in the fate of these ‘republics’ in Donbas is that they are in the Ukrainian rust belt and border Russia. This area, according to BBC, is rich in minerals, mainly steel. In addition to being an access route to Crimea, the peninsula that rebelled against Kiev, also in 2014, and was later annexed by Russia, although Kiev does not recognize the action.
In addition, in 2012, due to the Poland-Ukraine European Championship, a lot was invested in Donetsk, including airport, port, roads.
It should also be remembered that the region has an ethnic and cultural relationship with Russia, since in addition to the same origin, many workers came to Ukraine, mainly to the east, to work when this country was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
For this reason, a large part of its population speaks Russian and they have always been in the sphere of Moscow’s policies. Even since 2019 Russia gave passports from their country to inhabitants of the Ukrainian region.
The two republics do not occupy the entire territory of their respective provinces, but only part of it. Therefore, there is also the concern that later they will claim the entire territory and start a conflict in which Russia would then intervene to support them.
The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, described Russia’s recognition of these republics as a violation of his sovereignty and an attack on their territorial integrity.
Zelensky is also calling on the West (US and Europe) to get more involved in supporting Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, said, this Wednesday at the UN General Assembly, that the United Nations and the international community must demonstrate “with concrete actions” their support for Ukraine to “put out the fire that is about to declare itself in the center of Europe.”
For now, only sanctions from several countries have been announced. An important one is the one made by Germany by suspending the regulatory approval process for the operation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would carry gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea.
Likewise, the United States deployed a series of measures against Russia’s sovereign debt, to block the Moscow Government’s access to Western financing in response to what it considered the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, recalls EFE.
In addition, the White House on Wednesday warned that these are “only a demonstration” of the “increasing costs” that Moscow will face if it continues with its aggressive actions.
Daleep Singh, White House deputy national security adviser, told CNN that among the additional measures that can be applied are controls on technology exports to Russia, which “can be applied at any time.”
“Our purpose – said Singh – is to prevent a large-scale invasion by taking large cities in Ukraine (…). Our purpose is to prevent a puppet regime from taking control in Kiev to bend to the will of Moscow. This is what it’s about.” (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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