Russia-Ukraine War

When did the invasion of Ukraine happen ?

February 24, 2022

What were Putin claims on why Russia Invaded Ukraine ?

-Russia "not safe"

-"Neo-Nazis" in Kyiv

-Ukrainian Resistance

-Putin warns the world

How is Foreign policy used ?

Diplomatic: meetings, negotiations, deals

Economic: Aid sanctions

Military: Material, weapons

What does NATO stand for?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

What is the cost of this war?

-Human Cost: many killed and injured

-Financial cost: US 175 Billion( 80 billion military), Other nations 205 billion

What support is there for Ukraine

-Humanitarian Aid 75 nations

-Military Aid 57 nations

What support is there for Russia

-Belarus: Full geographic access to Ukraine

-China: dual used goods

-Iran: 8,000 drones and missiles

-North Korea: weapons and troops

Why this War Matters

-Largest conflict in Europe since WWII

-Challenge to NATO

-Attack on Democratic traditions

-Assault on international order: nations using force to change borders

What were Putin's big ideas ?

-Reestablish Russia as a dominant regional power, oppose NATO expansion, reclaim states

-feared democracy

-designed an authoritarian state

Putin's background

-16 years in KGB

-elected president in 1999

-Cold War mentality

-Belief West was trying to destroy Russia

What did Putin think of the collapse of USSR ?

-greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century

-defeat

-dishonor

-humiliation

-desire for prestige and sphere of influence

What are the pillars of Putinism ?

1. Constitutional manipulation and election fraud concentration of presidential power

2. Control of Media Outlets and creation of personality cult

3. State control of property and major industry

4. Crushing Political Dissent and minority rights

5. Expansionist Foreign Policy and terroism

In what ways has Putin committed election fraud concentration and manipulation ?

-murder of opposition

-illegitimate judicial system

-Lengthen Presidential term limits

-shift of power between posts

-remove opponents from ballots

In what ways has Putin controlled property and industry ?

-nationalization of resources

-oligarch gain even more power

-Former president of Lukos Jailed

How does Putin expand foreign policy and terroism ?

-invading Ukraine

What's the significance of Ukraine to USSR

-former member

-Russia has a duty to protect Ukraine

-Strong relationship with the West is a threat to Russia

-Ukraine not a part of NATO or EU

What's Ukraine's Significance ?

-Fertile farmland "bread basket"

-Buffer against the West/NATO (democracy)

How were Ukrainians persecuted while part of USSR ?

-Stalin attempted to control culture and agriculture through force and intimidation

-The Holodomor which was a famine to kill Ukrainians

How has Russia attempted to undermine Ukrainian independence and democracy prior to the current conflict ?

March 2014: Crimea Annexation: Russian Soldiers occupy key facilities/checkpoints and make them do a fraudulent referendum "Little Great Man" so they rejoin Russia

Nov 2021-Feb 2022: "Special Military Operation": Russians start amassing soldiers, supplies, medial units, and fuel reserves: infrastructure for war

Background of President Zelenskyy

-grew up under Soviet rule

-USSR fell when he was 13 years old

-elected in 2019 73% of vote

-Bring peace to Ukraine, eventually join NATO and end corruption

Foreign Policy tools used by Zelenskyy

Diplomatic: met with EU leaders, allies and attended global summits

Economic: Requested aid and investment from allies, sanctions, used frozen Russia assets

Military: secured weapons and air defense systems, engaged in ground war

What is Biden's foreign policy philosophy?

Idealism: defend democracy, check aggressors , stand by allies

What is Trump's foreign policy philosophy?

Realism: Put America first, get the best deal, pragmatism

What is the Biden vision ?

-World wide struggle of Democracy vs Authoritarianism

-invasion is illegal and immoral

-authoritarian leaders will follow Putin if he succeeds

What is the Trump vision ?

-End the war ASAP, promised but admits it's harder than he thought

What is PURL ?

1. Ukraine sets military priorities

2. NATO pays the US for weapons

3. US provides equipment

4. NATO delivers weapons to Ukraine

Trump foreign policy tools used

-diplomacy: most frequent, Putin and Trump met in Alaska

-Economic: threatened additional sanctions

-military: weapons to Ukraine through PURL

What does Ukraine want in the war ?

1. Ceasefire, peace talks

2. Keep all land

3. Security guarantees: strong military, NATO, committed allies

What does Russia want in the war?

1. Additional land in Eastern Ukraine

2. Size of Ukraine military to be restricted

3. Wants a guarantee that Ukraine won't join NATO

What happened at the Alaska Summit ?

Trump changed his mind and agreed with Putin that ceasefire was not essential

What has Russia done since the summit ?

-Russian drones shot down over Poland

-Russian jets flew over Estonian airspace

How is the war being fought?

1. Trench Warfare

2. Urban Warfare

3. Drone Attacks

How are Ukrainian Civilians providing aid ?

-fighting

-cooking

-medical

-organization

How has the war caused a humanitarian crisis ?

-many people displaced, refugees

-lost access to food, shelter, healthcare, etc...

-overwhelmed support systems

How have human rights been violated ?

-War Crimes: targeting civilians in Bucha

-Torture: consistent and systematic

-Disappearances of children

How was the world responded to the crisis?

-Billions in humanitarian and military aid from allies of Ukraine

-45+ nations welcoming refugees

-NGO's supporting Ukraine

-international arrest warrants

-housing efforts

-UN world food programs