Post Cold War Europe

And

The Crisis in

Ukraine

Post Cold War EuropeAfter the Cold War ended Eastern European nations made

the transition to capitalist democracies

East and West Germany united and thrived.

For some it was more difficult, there were hard times

In the 1990s civil war in former Yugoslavia left 140,000+ dead and 4,000,000 displaced by ethnic cleansing

as it broke up into smaller states.

Gradually most nations joined the European Union, and even NATO

This included the Baltic States

(former Soviet Republics Latvia, Estonia & Lithuania)

Economic CrisisEurope was hurt Economically when the stock and bond markets crashed in 2007

Some European governments went broke (Greece, Italy, Ireland & Spain)

Since then the European Union has practiced austerity … Higher Taxes and Less Government Spending to avoid more Government going broke.

This has had only limited success and the economy continues to struggle.

Especially in Spain and Greece

The UkraineThe Ukraine became an independent republic in 1991

Ukraine is culturally divided into Ukrainian and Russian

Ukrainians, are the majority, speak their own language and are often Catholic.

Most favor a close relationship with Europe

Leaders: Yulia Tymmoshenko & Victor Yuschenko

2004 The “Orange Revolution”Victor Yanukovich wins a rigged election. Protests force the courts to annul the resultYushenko wins the election rerun

Russians, are a large minority

They speak Russian and favor a close relationship with Russia

Leader: Victor Yanukovych

During which International pressure rose

Yanukovych sneaks out of the country to Russia.

A new pro-European Union government led by Tymoshenko formed

Yanukovych, a pro-Russian was elected president in 2010

He was seen as Putin’s Puppet, favoring close links to Russia

While the majority wanted to join the EU (European Union)

He was also very corrupt,

2013 He rejects closer ties to the EU, soon protests began

protests turned to violence.

In December protestors occupy the capitol’s (Kiev) city hall

After a crack-down on protestors in Jan. and Feb. 2014

Russia’s Response• Anti-Kiev propaganda the new goverfnment is

called Nazis

• Sieze control of Crimea, using Russian soldiers without insignia

• Hold a sham election…Crimea votes to leave Ukraine and Join Russia

• Support with weapons supplies and men Russian speaking rebels in East Ukraine

9/5/2014 the “Minsk Agreement” is sopposed to be a ceasefire in Eastern Unkraine

But fighting between the Gov. and rebels continues.