Ukraine-Russia Conflict : Reasons of the Ongoing Tensions

(Pic courtesy: Al Jazeera)

Tensions are rising between Ukraine and Russia on Ukraine’s eastern border. US is also leading talks in the NATO forum on the Ukraine situation. There is an increase in ceasefire violations and a massive military buildup in border areas is also a cause of concern.

The western powers are worried and urged Russia to pull back its troops as well. With this conflict making recent headlines many of you are wondering what is the cause of this confrontation.

To understand that we have to go back to 1991, the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union. Since the collapse of the relations between Russia and Ukraine were never friendly. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula after the oustering of Viktor Yanukovych who was Russian friendly. The ouster was a result of the popular uprising in Ukraine the capital Kyiv. This was followed by separatist conflict in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, of Donetsk Basin.

Russian-speaking Armed rebels sized public buildings and proclaimed ``people's republics'' in the Donetsk and the Luhansk regions. Ukraine military and the voluntary battalion had to be moved to put down unrest in the region.

Ukraine has always alleged Russian sent troops and weapons to support the separatists. Russia has denied those claims insisting that Russians fighting alongside the rebels went there according to their own will.

Sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the United States and the European Union for its annexation of Crimea and its support for the separatists. The restrictions that blocked Russia's access to global capital markets have halted the transfer of Western technology. Russia banned most Western food imports in retaliation

The lasting lack of resolution has led to a fresh confrontation with repeated ceasefire violations. In this year about 30 soldiers have died on Ukraine’s side. Ukraine accuses of fermenting tensions by sending 41k soldiers to its eastern border and 42k in Crimea. According to US and NATO, this is Russia’s largest presence in the region since 2014.

Moscow on the other hand is calling this a necessary security precaution amid what it described as Ukraine's provocations along the line of control. Russian officials have warned Ukraine against trying to use force for retaking the east, saying Russia could be forced to intervene to protect civilians if they face a threat of massacre.

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