The Ukranian People
The Ukranian people in this conflict are divided into two groups. The Ukranian Speaking population and the Russian speaking or Ethnic Russian population. The Eastern part of the Ukraine, including Crimea, is heavily populated by the Russian speaking, pro-Russian population. The western part and majority of the country is populated by the Ukrainian speaking and Ukrainian-identified population.
The Ukranian people in this conflict are divided into two groups. The Ukranian Speaking population and the Russian speaking or Ethnic Russian population. The Eastern part of the Ukraine, including Crimea, is heavily populated by the Russian speaking, pro-Russian population. The western part and majority of the country is populated by the Ukrainian speaking and Ukrainian-identified population.
The Ukranian Side
Their Interests They want a democratic and independent government. This includes transparent and accountable government that is not influenced by any outside or foreign interests. They want a national identity of their own. This includes their own sovereignty and own language. They do not want to be Russian or European. They want to have economic freedom from Russia and explore new economic opportunities with the rest of Europe. It is their interest to join the EU. At the same time they also want to have a trade relationship with Russia as well. Most importantly they do not want to split the country and annex the regions in the east populated by the Russian speaking population. Their Fear and Insecurities There are many security fears. They fear that Russia will invade and occupy the Ukraine. They fear that they will lose their independence and national identity and return to a system similar to the Soviet Union if Russia is allowed to occupy parts of the Ukraine. There are also many economic fears. They fear that cutting ties with the EU will reduce economic opportunities and their power and influence. There is also the fear that if they partner with the EU they will also lose their trade agreement with Russia or that Russia will disrupt the natural gas supply which they depend on. Most importantly there many feras of losing their identity. They do not want to lose their language, customs and culture to a Russian or European culture. |
The Russian Side
Their Interests The Russian speaking people want independence from the rest of the Ukraine that does not identify as Russian. They feel that they are have always been a part of Russia. They want to be free to Speak Russian have a Russian national identity. They want to have political and economic relationship with Russia. They want the economic opportunities that Russia offers as opposed to the EU which they do not trust. They want to remain independent of the EU and do not want foreign intervention from the UNITED STATES and EU. These people are the minority and feel the rest of the Ukraine does not represent them. Their Fear and Insecurities The Russian speaking people fear that they will lose their identity as Russians. They fear that they will suffer inequality and injustice at the hands of the Ukrainian Majority. They fear that they will lose ties with Russia. They fear that they will lose political representation and power to the majority of western Ukraine. They do not trust an economic relationship with the EU and feel that corrupt politicians are being influenced by European governments. There a very real fear that the economy will suffer if ties with Russia are dissolved. |
“Men fight wars, and women mourn them,” says documentary photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind. With stark, arresting images from the Maidan protests in Ukraine, the TED Fellow shows us intimate faces from the revolution. A grim and beautiful talk.