Since the conclusion of World War II, Russia has remained a dominant force in global affairs, continuously competing with the United States in a struggle for supremacy on the world stage, that, until recently, seemed to favor America and its democracy. Lately, Americans have rested all too easy assured of their ultimate victory over the Russian Bear, pointing to our triumph in the space race and steadfast attitude in the face of threats like the Cuban Missile Crisis as sure signs of superiority. In classrooms across the country and around the world, we are taught with pride that America won the Cold War back in 1991. Every day, however, America’s position in the world declines, and the peace and prosperity fostered by its values wane, as Russia’s imperialist and ethnocentric ideology in ltrate the United States government.
While Russia’s clamoring to reassert its control over former territories and satellites in Eastern Europe has rocked global geopolitics over the past ve years, the world has been largely blinded from its grave threat not only to our collective security, but also to the dignity of human rights in general. Our ideals of freedom and self-determination are themselves under assault. Vladimir Putin has managed to take control of a foreign nation, facing only mere condemnation and measly economic sanctions as a consequence, thanks to America’s severe lack of action. The world watched as freedom was stripped from the bloodied hands of the Ukrainian people and the world turned away as Russia pressed onwards into Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
In 2004, when the men and women of Ukraine united to crush Putin’s endeavor to install a Russian puppet regime there, the nation established a sense of safety. During the Orange Revolution, President Viktor Yanukovych was forced to resign after his election was exposed as rigged by Putin. The successful revolution ensured democracy for nine years, as a new democratic leader was installed. But the conniving antics of Russia challenged the Ukrainians once more in 2013, when Yanukovych was once more elected into office, on the basis that he would introduce Ukraine into the European Union, only to turn to sign Ukraine toward more Russian integration. This blatant disregard for popular sovereignty and the will of the people sparked a renewed fervor towards the ideals of freedom.
The night of November 21, 2013 began the sharp decline in freedom that throttled Ukraine into its current plight. Thousands of Ukrainian patriots arrived at Maidan Square in Kiev, a symbol for the nation’s freedom and independence. These fierce freedom fighting individuals peace
fully expressed their discontent with the president’s decision. But the people’s defense of their freedom was met with violence as the protesters were beaten senselessly at the demand of Yanukovych, who both introduced arbitrary laws stripping Ukrainians of their inalienable rights and suspended internet access. Following a full scale civil war , the unity of the people prevailed, but the protesters paid a grave toll. Yanukovych was expelled from Ukraine for treason, but found refuge as a personal guest of Putin, his benefactor in Russia. Over 100 people died during the war for freedom, which lasted 93 days.
After establishing their dominance in Crimea, Russia quickly moved to introduce a referendum to allow Russian annexation. At gunpoint, the referendum passed. Thereafter, all Crimeans were obligated to obtain Russian passports and Russian troops began to station themselves around the region. Since the takeover, reports by the United Nations estimate that 5.2 million people live in conflict affected areas and more than a million people have left their homes, 653,523 of them living as displaced persons in Ukraine.
One might ask why Yanukovych was again elected Ukrainian president even after the Orange Revolution rejected him as a proven Russian accomplice who committed treasonous acts. Though Yanukovych deceived the Ukrainian people intentionally, the Ukrainians had been warned. The Ukrainians were aware that Yanukovych was in frequent contact with Russia since 2004, yet they were later deceived by him thanks to the manipulation lies and “fake news,” which enabled him to win the election.
It is uncanny to consider the 2016 election here in the United States in comparison to the dictatorial Yanukovych’s rise to power. Just recently, federal authorities have con rmed that the FBI’s October 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email scandal was triggered by faulty intelligence planted by the Russians to incite suspicion against her. But the most shocking aspect of the similarities is Donald Trump’s political team. His rst campaign manager, Paul Manafort, held the same position to aid Yanukovych’s dictatorial career. Just recently, Trump relieved FBI Director James Comey from his position while he was conducting an investigation of Trump’s connections to Russia, possibly to eliminate any possible links to Russia. Given the similarities, could Trump be another Putin puppet, an American coming of Yanukovych? If so, can we count on ourselves to respond with the same bravery of the Ukrainian people, who rose up to demand their liberty in defense of humanity’s inalienable rights, as Russian imperialism attempted to leech their society of its freedom?