In light of Russia’s decision to launch a military operation against the Western-backed Ukrainian government, I’m re-posting an article written eight years ago on the events leading up to the Ukrainian conflict. It’s important to remind ourselves that this civil war has been raging for almost a decade, and is far more complex than the mainstream media would have you believe.
January 2014: This week four protesters died in Ukraine, the country at the centre of a political tug-of-war between Russia and Europe. More have allegedly been tortured by the state during anti-government protests which are spinning dangerously out of control.
Campaigners took to the streets in the capital Kiev in November, after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych decided not to go ahead with a planned treaty with the European Union. Many Ukrainians were hopeful that a new alliance with the great Western power would open up new trade deals, boost the economy and give them the benefit of free travel and work opportunities within the E.U once their membership was secured.
But Russia didn’t like this proposed alliance, putting pressure on Yanukovych to think twice about it. The two neighboring countries have a long and intertwined history, being strong allies allied and inextricably linked through the Soviet Union until its eventual collapse in 1991. Ukraine is a fertile country with a strong agricultural industry and is often known as ‘the breadbasket of Europe’. As the third largest grain exporter in the world, it’s not surprising that both Europe and Russia are in fierce competition to benefit from cheap trade deals. In the end though, Russia’s blackmailing of Ukraine over the E.U treaty – even offering them cheaper gas imports as a reward for continued loyalty to Moscow – worked well. Yanukovych bowed to Russian demands and declared he wouldn’t go ahead with the proposals (for now, at least).
Sophie McAdam 