Ukraine Crisis May Spiral Toward an Imminent War

In a dramatic rise in tensions in the ongoing crises between Ukraine and Russia, Kiev announced on Tuesday that the country’s military has successfully re-taken an airfield that pro-Russian gunmen had once occupied. The move comes following Kiev’s announcement that it will take action after pro- Russian gunmen occupied major institutions across Easter Ukraine, including a police headquarters in the Eastern city of Kramatorsk.

The events are the most dramatic in the nearly 5 month old crises between Kiev and Moscow. The crises started in November 2013 when the Ukrainian parliament rejected a trade deal with the EU and instead opted to move more toward Moscow which signed a $15 billion debt buyout and reduced the price of Russian gas supplies by about a third. The deal was signed by Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovich and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kiev has officially called the operation which is taking place an anti-terrorist operation, which has orders to take back institutions which have come under control of pro-Russian gunmen. Ukrainian Gennady Krutov was quoted as saying “We have information that there is shooting going on in here. I came to clarify that. There is an anti-terrorist operation going on in here. I am here to protect you. I address you as citizens of our common country.” Krutov said in referring to the operation at the airfield.

In the last meeting between Russian prime minister Sergey Lavrov and United States’ secretary of State John Kerry, which took place Sunday March 30^th, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement to deescalate the situation and since that meeting the situation has rapidly grown worse day by day. Meetings between the U.S. led military alliance, N.A.T.O., and Russia have continued throughout the crisis.

In a follow up phone call which took place on Monday April 14^th, between Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama the two sides exchanged concerns in what was described as a tense and heated phone call. A statement released by the White house was quoted as saying “expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, of pro- Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine”.

A statement released by Kremlin officials on Monday in response to President Obama’s accusation read In response to the President of the United States expressed concern about Russia’s supposed meddling in Southeastern Ukraine, Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying “that such speculations are based on inaccurate information.” A transparency one has come to expect.