BELLWORK: A 2 nd Cold War?!?!? 1.What other recent events have increased Russian-US tensions? 2.What are the two sides of the crisis? What does each side support? 3.Why did Russia send troops into Ukraine? 4.How did the U.S. respond? 5.THINKER 1: In your opinion, how should the US respond? Is this our place to intervene? 6.THINKER 2: Is this a second Cold War? List three similarities between Russia’s current influence in Ukraine vs. USSR influence in satellite states.
Timeline of Ukrainian Conflict 1954: Ukraine becomes satellite state 1991: After fall of Soviet Union, Ukraine becomes an independent nation 1997: Friendship treaty with Russia 2010: Viktor Yanukovych wins presidential election (opposition claims fraud) 2010: Parliament votes to abandon NATO membership 2011: evidence of journalist murders, brutality, torture in prison; Russia is given regional powers = leads to protests and violent responses by military 2012: Ukrainian government discusses membership in EU 2013 November - Tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets of central Kiev and other cities to protest at the government's sudden decision to abandon plans to sign an association agreement with the EU. They accuse the government of bowing to Russian pressure, as well as being corrupt and unaccountable 2013 December - Anti-government protests continue. After talks between President Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, it is announced that Russia has agreed to slash the price of gas supplied to Ukraine and lend $15bn (£9.2bn, 11bn euros) in order to avoid bankruptcy 2014 February - After months of failed efforts at compromise, the Kiev protests see their deadliest week. At least 77 people die and police are accused of using live ammunition. The EU imposes targeted sanctions, protesters storm government offices in the east, officials begin deserting the ruling party. 2/21/2014: Under an EU- and Russian-mediated deal, President Yanukovych concedes early elections, but soon after flees the capital, and the opposition takes control. Former PM Yulia Tymoshenko is freed and parliament elects her long-time ally Olexander Turchynov as interim president. Russia condemns the new takeover as a mutiny 2014 March: Russia sends troops into Crimea
Putin to Ukranian forces in Crimea: “clear out or face military storm.”
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych President of Ukraine until his removal from power by the Ukrainian parliament in 2014.
Oleksandr Turchynov acting President of Ukraine after Viktor Yanukovych was removed from power by the parliament on 21 February On 25 February, he assumed the duties of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces