Russian-Ukrainian Crisis from Scratch to Clash

By: Norhan Mahmoud

CAIRO, Nov. 27 (SEE)- Escalations have been vigorously shaking borders in-between the Russian and Ukrainian territories in the past few days that some political watchers are foreseeing a possible war on the way. But why is this unrest making headlines? And is the crisis anew or a long standing one? 

First off, Ukraine as a country is internally pided; western citizens count themselves fully Ukrainians while their eastern neighbors believe that they are connected to Russia.

Originally, tensions outset in 2014 when Crimea’s residents along Other Ukrainian minorities raged in objection post the 2013 revolution, that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and his regime off power, as the reforms to some extent were not in their favor. 

It was then that Russia annexed the Crimean lands and their forces have been wandering around causing the conflict to intensify day by day. 

For this reason, several countries including the United States and Japan have imposed sanctions on Russia denouncing what the Ukrainians coin as an interference- even invasion would be proper here.

When connecting dots together, observers come to the fact that the Crimean island, that some map as a Russian territory, is the main dispute between the two countries as it floats over a rich amount of oil and embraces gigantic amounts of gas resources- its strategic significance is here apparent.

Meanwhile, the latest arousal evolved when Russians opened fire on Ukrainian naval ships sailing in the Kerch strait near Crimea to force them out which resulted in the injury of several persons and the firing ended with the Russians capturing the ships and crews.

As per Reuters, Ukraine activated martial laws for 30 days in areas vulnerable to possible attacks and called upon the west to impose further sanctions on Russia.

For her part, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is to quitting the political scene soon, spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin who expressed Moscow’s readiness to provide more details. FYI, Putin previously noted that people wholeheartedly believe that Crimea is an inseparable part of Russia.

In her attempts to handle the crisis as neutral as possible, Merkel also talked to Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and called for de-escalation and dialogue.

Branding the sailing as “Illegal,” is the Kremlin’s excuse for the occurrence- as if their seizing was lawful!

As of now, Kiev and Moscow have been blaming each other for the incident and several European politicians are leaning towards the sanctions proposal. Let’s tune for what will happen next hoping that the clash will not heighten into a fatal crash!