Apr 18, 2022 / No.157
On February 24, 2022, at around 4:50 a.m., Russia invaded Ukraine marking the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. Two of the biggest causes of this war are discussed here. The first reason is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO is a military alliance formed by the United States (U.S.) in 1949 to prevent Soviet expansion. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but Ukraine’s Donbas region, a pro-Russian region, became a rebel region where civil war continues to break out despite not being part of Russia. As a result, Ukraine wanted to join NATO. However, Russia’s position could not be overlooked because it posed a direct threat to western border security, which became another cause for the war. The next big cause is Ukraine’s important geographical location. A gas pipeline called Northstream 2, which connects Russia and Europe, runs through Ukraine. Europe earns about a quarter of its natural gas through this gas pipeline, making them highly dependent on natural gas imported from Russia. In response, U.S. has consistently discussed sanctions against it. In addition, various factors such as Russia’s domestic solidarity and Putin’s (President of Russia) extension of power are cited.
In the advent of the war, many Ukrainian citizens sought asylum in the neighboring countries of Poland and Romania to escape the war. However, many people said they would stay and fight. Even Ukrainian people living outside Ukraine and people of other nationalities have joined Ukraine as mercenaries and are fighting for Ukraine. Moreover, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky also expressed his willingness to fight in the war. President Zelensky continues to call for willingness to fight in the war and support Ukraine through televised speeches from his office in Ukraine’s capital city of Kiu and issuing statements emphasizing the need to rebuild the European security structure.
As a result, the international community is actively moving against the war. Countries worldwide voiced their support by lighting major buildings up in blue and yellow, representing the Ukrainian flag. In addition, the government has imposed economic sanctions on Russian companies, continuing to impose sanctions due to falling stock prices and the plunge in the ruble exchange rate. In Korea, various efforts are being made not only to light up the light of peace on landmarks including N Seoul Tower and Sevit Island, but also to deliver 40t of emergency medical supplies to help Ukraine. Civilian damage has been on the rise recently as a result of the prolonged war. In addition, it is argued that Russia used white phosphorus which was banned under the Geneva Conventions. The use of white phosphorus is controversial and can be considered a war crime, increasing criticism against Russia worldwide.
By Yu Woo-sang, AG Reporter
tom6070@ajou.ac.kr
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