Russia & Ukraine

Is the conflict truly over human rights?

By Yosor Alwan

2/22/22

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has taken the world by storm early 2022.

Could this be the start of World War III? Is the conflict something we should truly pay attention to? What is the reason for Ukraine and Russian conflict? Currently, the two countries are in a state of war: the Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. This occurred after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, the successor of the states’ bilateral relations has undergone periods of ties, tensions, and outright hostility. How did Ukraine finally separate from Russia? Ukraine officially declared itself an independent country on 24 August 1991 when the Soviet (parliament) of Ukraine proclaimed that Ukraine would no longer follow the laws of USSR. The Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Ukraine wishes to be a sovereign state and maintain its sovereignty, meanwhile Russia wishes to annex the country.

This brings us the question of: why does the U.S have an interest in this conflict and is willing to reach the brink of war to defend Ukraine? The U.S is claiming to assist Ukraine because it claims to be targeting to promote political and economic reform and to address the urgent humanitarian needs. But is this truly the cause? The U.S claimed to intervene in Afghanistan and Iraq to “promote humanitarian rights and economic stability”, but was that truly the case? The Taliban has completely taken over Afghanistan and women's rights have been infringed upon more than ever currently. There have been between 184,382 and 207,156 Iraqi civilians killed by direct violence since the U.S invasion. Additionally, the war of terror caused the deaths of 897,000 to 929,000 people, including over 364,000 civilians and cost $8 trillion. Did either of these instances promote “economic stability and humanitarian relief/ and or rights? The simple answer to this question is no. The truth is in every human conflict and the innocents' lives are always the ones that are affected, and someone is being taken advantage of.