World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

The rebel advances in Ukraine have been recently stemmed by forces loyal to Kyiv.  But there is evidence that the separatists are once again regaining the intiative, thanks to support from Russia.  What seems to be the most likely objective of the rebel advances is the city of Mariupol which would be an essential component of a land-bridge from Russia to Crimea.  The city seems to be held primarily by forces loyal to Kyiv, but the majority of the population also speaks Russian.  We should focus on the how quickly the separatists seem to be that that strategic city.

US President Obama’s speech in Estonia did not mince any words.  It is rare for a statesperson to be so blunt.  While he did not use the word “invasion” (which would have amounted to a declaration of war which is why the US is so reluctant to use the word), President Obama identified Russia as the source of the problems in Ukraine:

It was not the government in Kyiv that destabilized eastern Ukraine; it’s been the pro-Russian separatists who are encouraged by Russia, financed by Russia, trained by Russia, supplied by Russia and armed by Russia.  And the Russian forces that have now moved into Ukraine are not on a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission.  They are Russian combat forces with Russian weapons in Russian tanks.  Now, these are the facts.  They are provable.  They’re not subject to dispute.

More importantly, President Obama rejected any possibility that the US would accept a decision imposed on Ukraine by force, and he identified the tactics of Russia as being unacceptable in the 21st century:

Let’s also be clear where we stand.  Just as we refused to accept smaller European nations being dominated by bigger neighbors in the last century, we reject any talk of spheres of influence today.  (Applause.)  And just as we never accepted the occupation and illegal annexation of the Baltic nations, we will not accept Russia’s occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea or any part of Ukraine.  (Applause.)

We now must wait for two things:  President Putin’s response to Obama’s speech and the decision by NATO after the meeting on Thursday.  The current thinking is that President Putin will back off slightly, but not give up any of the gains he has made in eastern Ukraine right now.