Images of protesters in Kiev and the dramatic division between the eastern pro-Russian and western pro-European Union enclaves of Ukraine appear to be an old hat. This large eastern European country, or former part of the Soviet Union, is in the news so often that it can be easy to ignore it all together. But, for better or worse, do not expect it to go away anytime soon.
This weekend, a cease-fire was signed in Belarus. As the Washington Post and the Telegraph reported, shortly after the cease-fire document was made public, violence continued in two eastern Ukrainian cities, which resulted in the alleged death of one woman and wounded four others.
This weekend also saw world religious leaders weigh in on their opinion of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Dali Lama called not only for peace, but also for Putin to let go of some of his power. The most interesting opinion came from the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who said that Putin was possessed by Satan and compared him to Adam and Eve’s murderous son Cain, according to the Washington Post.
It is close to impossible to talk about the protests in Ukraine without mentioning Russia and its president. Beyond the crisis in Ukraine’s, Russia’s notorious stance on homophobia bears mentioning. Members of the LGBT community can be black-listed from banks and fired from their jobs, even as many countries are legalizing same sex marriage and increasing transgender rights. Members of the feminist band Pussy Riot were jailed for calling out President Putin in a music video. Conveniently, they were released before the Sochi Winter Olympics. Understandably, many European countries and the U.S. have imposed sanctions on Russia, but many wonder if they are doing enough to stop Putin’s reign of terror.
Last January, four former American ambassadors to Ukraine wrote in an op-ed to the New York Times that the western world could quickly become bystanders as the country is over run by violence. President Obama has pledged $60 million in aid, but so far has resisted sending in weapons or troops. There is a saying that Russia without Ukraine is a country, but Russia with Ukraine is an empire. It is hard to know what action Putin will take next, but the more immediate question is what the Ukrainian people will decide to do.
After the events of this weekend, Ukraine must decide to honor the cease-fire or continue fighting. President Putin, the debate over if the USA should send in troops and the potential for even more bloodshed are all up in the air. A line is being straddled, between the east and west, and now between war and peace. In either scenario, expect to hear a lot more about the country in this year’s news.
