On Thursday, February 24th, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered a full scale invasion into neighboring Ukraine. This blatant disregard for international law had everyone at the edge of their seats as news coverage began pouring in showing the lives of Ukrainians being uprooted overnight. Many people wondered whether or not this conflict could have been avoided via policy reform and peace talks. However, many people also are under the belief that this conflict was inevitable and has simply been building over years. With all of these displaced Ukrainians, the world has come together to support them and give them refuge as their homeland is torn apart by war. This in itself is a positive, however, it does beg the question: where was this support for refugees when Syrians and Afghans were fleeing their homes during wartime? Lastly, all of these events, understandably, have left many people with the scars of a traumatic event. These are not scars that will fade quickly, we will see the lasting impact of this war.
Although it may have seemed as though Russia decided to invade Ukraine at the spur of the moment, this was a long time coming. Russia and Ukraine share many similar cultures and have held animosity toward each other in the past. Russia feels as though it is entitled to Ukrainian lands because of how far the Russian culture has expanded past its borders. This tension was elevated when Ukraine was offered, somewhat hesitantly, to join NATO with the majority of the other European nations. This was spurred on by Western politicians, namely George W. Bush. This may look like a good thing for Ukraine, and it would have been if they were accepted promptly after the offer was released. But alas NATO refused to allow Ukraine in at that time and instead “ke(pt) them in this incredibly dangerous limbo.” (Mulder 2022) The possibility of Ukraine officially joining NATO puts a lot of pressure on Russia because it would mean officially losing all possible occupation of Ukraine and instead, bolster the western powers. This cannot be overlooked a defining factor of how western nations’ agendas have formed the current events that are unfolding today. Putin would have had to either tucked tail and let Ukraine go (which would have hurt support for him and his regime) or refused to relinquish control and instead make a drastic move. In hindsight I don’t see how it would have played out any other way.
With the invasion of Ukraine came the mass influx of media coverage and an unprecedented amount of support from Americans over a war being fought thousands of miles away. There are two main reasons that I think Americans are being so supportive of Ukraine and its peoples. One being that Ukrainians fall under the phenotype (biological appearance) of European. Two being that Americans have been taught to see Russia as an enemy since the Cold War. The amount of support for Ukrainian refugees is great don’t get me wrong. However, this level of support was definitely not seen by Syrians, Afghans, Yemenites, or Palestinians. A popular opinion is that because Ukrainians are perceived as being more European they garter more sympathy form the western nations. I would have to agree that race and ethnicity definitely had a part to play in the open support for the Ukrainian Refugees. I want to stress again, that this is not meant to be accusatory of Ukraine, instead an analysis of the way the ideology of the western nations affects international conflicts.
With that being said, things like media coverage and storytelling have also helped rally support for Ukraine. The videos circulating around Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok showing everyday Ukrainians adorning body armor and weaponry to gallantly defend their homes have painted a very “David vs. Goliath” imagery. And lets be honest, everyone loves a good underdog story. This idea of media and storytelling in order to humanize individual Ukrainians has served its purpose to rally not only Ukrainians but people around the globe to come and stand with Ukraine, even on the battlefield. Many military veterans have decided to use their knowledge and experience to go and fight with the Ukrainians. I believe that if it weren’t for this narrative being spun, the amount of physical support wouldn’t be this high. I also believe that the past history of America and the trauma between itself and Russia is a large contributing factor of the the American sentiment towards Ukraine.
America began as a small group of colonies fighting a world superpower for their freedom. These ideals of patriotism and fighting in your own backyard can be seen today in the Ukrainian people. This similarity in histories may be a driving factor for why Americans are sympathizing with Ukrainians more than what has been seen in the past. Another contributing factor could be the history between Russia and the US. The Cold War didn’t end until 1991. For years Russia/ The Soviet Union was seen as public enemy no.1. As well as the alleged Russian tampering with American politics over the last few years it’s easy to see why Americans would be in full support of anything that would be in opposition of the Russian agenda. The trauma of past Russian-American relations has seemingly fueled the American collective to support Ukraine almost in a vicarious nature.
In its entirety, the Russian-Ukrainian war was an event waiting to happen. Fueled by resentment and desperation Russia invaded Ukraine while the world responded in unprecedented ways. Ukrainian Refugees received a resounding amount of support in contrast to the thousands of refugees before them. This war will continue on until either the west steps in to sully support Ukraine or until Russia reaches its own breaking point and has to cut its losses. Either way, this is not a conflict that will be peacefully resolved on paper. The Ukrainians are living in a defining moment for their country and the outcome of this war will determine the future of all that they know.
Works Cited
An interview with Anatol Lieven, et al. “The History behind Putin's War in Ukraine.” Jacobin, Jacobin, 17 Mar. 2022, https://jacobin.com/2022/03/doug-henwood-anatol-lieven-ukraine-russia-putin-sanctions-nuclear-war-history.
An interview with Sophie Pinkham Nick Mulder, et al. “Why Did Putin Decide to Invade Ukraine?” Jacobin, Jacobin, 24 Mar. 2022, https://jacobin.com/2022/03/russia-ukraine-putin-invasion-sanctions-ceasefire-interview.
Keelan, wow! You did a great job. I love reading the different perspectives on this topic, being that we are all learning the same thing, but have very different things to say about it. Your run down, and focus on the historical aspect have allowed me to gain better knowledge of what went on before we got to this point. Namely, when you said "Russia feels as though it is entitled to Ukrainian lands because of how far the Russian culture has expanded past its borders," I was able to understand the "why" rather than just the fact that Putin is attracted to power. Furthermore, you were very descriptive and left no room for questions. Importantly, my favorite part of…
Keelan, I really liked how you brought your impressions to the class and this first blog is no exception. What wars leave are forever and that will leave a mark. Ever since I heard about the "limbo" that Ukraine is in because of NATO I have wondered if that might have made a difference as to whether this war happened or not.
The link you made about the cold war and how the U.S. sees Russia as their enemy was the most that made me think how true that is. Also, the empathy for the similar situation the US went through in its beginnings.
Keelan, I think you did a great job of stating your stance/position on the war. You clearly believe there was another way than what is happening now. I somewhat agree and appreciate your supporting quotes. I agree that this war is due to past conflicts and the results definitely have varied compared to others due to race. Thank you, great post.
Keelan, I really enjoyed reading your response to our discussion in class. You have clearly covered most of points we discussed and added your point of of view. I agree with you that race and ethnicity plays a crucial role the in American response to the Ukrainian war, as well as propaganda . Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Keelan, you clearly emphasized the two points found in this readings. Unwavering Western support of the Ukraine (when compared with other international conflicts) comes from 1.) our conception of what it means to be "western" and civilized, which I believe is inherently racist, and 2.) our "priming" to hate Russia which traces back, at least for the U.S., to the cold war. However, I think you also highlighted something that our readings from this week failed to mention, and that would be the David and Goliath imagery. You made a great point about how this narrative in the media draws on our sympathy as Americans to resonate with "the little guy," a trope that we love and that dates back…