WWIII did not start, but the Ukrainian military is still fighting and dying. But then the very visible force seemed to withdraw, and the press once again moved on. Videos circulated of President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting troops in trenches, reminiscent of the First World War. The news was everywhere because this build-up of troops was seen as a threat to the West. Some even predicted the start of World War 3. Many news outlets reported that this could be the start of a full-blown Russian invasion. The Russo-Ukrainian war returned to the news cycle at the end of March when over 100,000 Russian troops positioned themselves along the border with Ukraine and within Crimea. As of February 2019, 7 per cent of Ukraine’s territory was under occupation Back in the News
And this war is still going on, with Russian supporting separatists trying to form independent republics in Luhansk and Donetsk. We never got a frank admission of the war that was going on. Russia was being threatening and intimidating. The language used by media helps to control the narrative, and the narrative concerning Ukraine was that Russia was applying pressure. But the events in Ukraine were never just a crisis or civil unrest. In fact, calling it a ‘ crisis‘ implies that this was a singular event a problem that is now over. This allowed the ongoing Russian presence in Ukraine to almost go under the radar. The ‘Ukrainian Crisis’ was deemed to be pretty much over and attention moved elsewhere.
WORLD WAR 3 2021 FULL
The news was full of pictures of Russian troops intimidating civilians, and of the destruction in cities along the border. Many said that this time a line had been crossed and that NATO had a duty to respond. Many commentators in the West were rightly outraged by Russia’s actions. Crimea continues to be governed by the Russian Federation, and Russia continues to back separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk. And yet Russia more or less got away with it. It is highly provocative, illegal and immoral. One cannot overstate quite how hostile it is for a nation to send unmarked soldiers into another nation’s sovereign territory and seize it. Such a term would be amusing if it wasn’t so troubling. Russian media used the euphemism ‘ Polite People‘ to describe the invaders. At first, despite the fact that they were carrying modern Russian weapons, President Putin denied the troops had anything to do with him. These were the unmarked soldiers in plain green uniforms who seized the Crimean Parliament and annexed the entirety of the peninsula. One of the enduring symbols of this ongoing conflict is Russia’s ‘Little Green Men’. Western nations pretended not to grasp just how unacceptable President Putin’s actions were.
Harsh words and a financial slap on the wrist was about as bad as it got for Russia. The West criticised Russia’s actions, and President Obama imposed economic sanctions in response. Russia viewed these events as an illegal coup and responded by annexing Crimea, with several incursions into Donetsk. The ‘ Revolution of Dignity’ ousted Yanukovych and led to a pro-EU interim government. When then-President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an EU association agreement out of fear of angering Russia, it escalated into a widespread revolt. At this time the Euromaidan movement began in support of stronger links to the European Union. Ukraine was subject to extensive media coverage in 2014. They must show leadership and strength by making a commitment to a free, independent Ukraine - before it’s too late.
And yet, Ukraine is vital to the safety and security of both Europe and the world. Flare-ups in violence lead to a few days of media coverage before it disappears back into the shadows. In Britain, and across the West, we are offered only snapshots into the day-to-day running of the ‘Bread Basket of Europe’. And yet, the second-largest nation in Europe is an unshakeable reminder of the continuation of the Cold War and a potential ignition key for WWIII. Its size and power are often underestimated. Its rich but often tragic history is little known. Ukraine seems to be a puzzle that very few of us in the West want to solve.
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