Tensions Remain High at the Russian-Ukrainian Border

Since November 2021 Russia has been continuing a slow military buildup near its Ukrainian border. This buildup has been flagged as a threat by United States European command as tensions rise between several world leaders. This conflict isn’t recent, as tensions have been high since 2014 when the Russo-Ukrainian War began following the Russian annexation of Crimea, a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. Crimea had been a part of Ukraine since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but had been annexed by Russia during an internal Ukrainian crisis known as the Ukrainian Revolution. Both the United Nations and The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO condemned the annexation of Crimea, with NATO specifically calling it “illegal and illegitimate.” NATO stated that they, “Decided to suspend all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia, while leaving political and military channels of communication open.” 

Since then, NATO has been working to increase Ukraine’s capability to provide for its own security as Russia continues to build up its military forces around its border with Ukraine. NATO allies are prepared to place sanctions on Russia in case of an invasion into Ukraine. President Biden has promised to send troops and arms to NATO countries near Ukraine, ready for deployment in case of a Russian invasion.

Although Moscow has insisted that an invasion is not planned, Ukrainian officials and NATO have stated that the claim should not be taken at face value. The stakes are very high and all parties claim that they are doing everything they can to avoid conflict. Several months into the crisis, no resolution has been found between the opposing parties.