Ukraine Crisis: Turning Points for World Peace

Ukraine Crisis: Turning Points for World Peace

An Agreement struck by the U.S., the European Union, Russia and Ukraine has raised hopes for defusing the Ukrainian Crisis, which has strained East-West ties to a degree unseen since the Cold War. The deal Thursday in Geneva came after the 4 parties held Talks together for the first time since Ukraine's Turmoil began nearly 5 months ago. A look at how the Ukrainian crisis has evolved:

How It All Started

After years of preparation for a partnership agreement with the 28-nation EU, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stepped back from the pact in late November in favor of pursuing closer ties with Russia.

The move sparked protests in Kiev, on the Ukrainian Capital's main square, which grew to hundreds of thousands of people after a brutal police crackdown. The demonstrations were peaceful for weeks, but turned violent in mid-January after Yanukovych pushed through Repressive Laws aimed at stifling the protests. The violence culminated in February as about 100 people died from sniper fire in central Kiev.

Following the bloodshed, Yanukovych signed a Europe-brokered Peace deal on Feb. 21, but fled the capital hours later as police withdrew and protesters took control of the city. He ended up sheltering in Russia.

Russia's  Game

Russia saw the proposed EU-Ukraine Agreement as undercutting Moscow's Clout in Ukraine. It offered a bailout package to Yanukovych after he rejected the EU deal, and accused the U.S. and the EU of masterminding the protests. President Vladimir Putin saw the rapid collapse of the February Peace Deal as cynical maneuvering by the West.

Putin sent Russian Troops into Ukraine's Strategic Crimea Peninsula, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based. The soldiers in unmarked uniforms, dubbed 'little green men' by some, quickly overtook Crimea, blocking Ukrainian Troops in their bases. 2 weeks later, the region's residents overwhelmingly voted for joining Russia, and Moscow annexed Crimea last month.

Russia also has deployed an estimated 40,000 troops in areas bordering Ukraine, raising Western Fears of an invasion into the east of the country, which has a large Russian-speaking population and was Yanukovych's support base.

Western Response

Washington and the EU, taken by surprise by the swift Russian Takeover of Crimea, imposed travel bans and asset freezes on members of Putin's entourage.

They warned that deeper sanctions targeting Russia's energy sector and other vital parts of the economy will follow if Russia moves into eastern Ukraine.

The U.S. has sent additional fighter jets to NATO members Poland and Lithuania, which border Russia. NATO also has announced plans to further beef up its forces in eastern Europe in response to Russia's action.

Eastern Ukraine Turmoil

Well-organized groups of gunmen quickly overtook government offices and police stations in several cities in eastern Ukraine in April and then handed over control to pro-Russian demonstrators, who hoisted Russian flags on top of the buildings. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of sending special forces to fuel turmoil, which Moscow denies.

The Ukrainian government has responded by sending in the army and police to uproot the protests, but it has been reluctant to use force, which could further fuel anger and trigger a Russian Invasion.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Apr/18/ukraine-crisis-turning-points/

Any kind of Conflicts and Hostilities are at last come from 'Misunderstanding of others and Malicious Greed for not deserving'. Thoughts and Actions obsessed by evil spirit Satan caused all kinds of troubles throughout the human history. But now is the Time of Peace God promised for so long and man yearned for eagerly. It is our Responsibility to bring Peace on the earth for our descendants to live a peaceful life. If we determine to make it, surely we can do it~! For God is love and peace, so God shall be with us and give us abilities to do so. Everything depends upon our Choice and Determination to do it or not. Let us come together and become one family under One God in order to make Peaceful World on the earth. This will be the Greatest Mission for us born at this crucial time of age. Let's make God our Heavenly Father to be pleased and glad to see what we are doing for His sake. No to conflicts and wars, Yes to love and peace~!

We pray for you all join us to do so. Amen.