Last week, the UN Security Council met to discuss the humanitarian emergency developing in eastern Ukraine as a result of renewed conflict between government-controlled Kyiv (supported by the West) and separatist rebels (backed by Russia). The Security Council was briefed on the conflict and the potential for a humanitarian crisis should fighting continue. More than 10,000 explosions over the course of 24 hours threatened to damage critical infrastructure and access to basic necessities, including heat and hot water, for nearly 1 million civilians in Donetsck City. According to the International Crisis Group, 3.8 million people are displaced in the country and approximately 2,000 civilians have died since the conflict began. The UN pledged its full support to peace efforts in Ukraine by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
At the meeting, Ukraine claimed that Russia violated the Minsk Agreements and escalated the conflict. The U.S. representative called for Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and cease its occupation of Crimea before it would consider lifting any sanctions.
The conflict in Ukraine brings about several questions regarding the role of international relations, particularly between the United States and Russia, and the UN in how to best address the conflict and help prevent a humanitarian crisis from escalating.
I’m quite interested in the point that “the conflict between government-controlled Kyiv (supported by the West) and separatist rebels (backed by Russia)”. It seems that it keeps the same in the history and takes place everywhere. For self-interest, big and powerful countries look for agencies or puppets in weak countries. Conflicts in certain regions of the world are utilized by these treacherous super powers. They keeps or maintains endless wars. They don’t care about humanitarianism and “world peace”.