Kaicie Boeglin
News Editor
Ukrainian resistance against Russia just surpassed a decade as they enter the third year of Russian President Vladimir Putin's full scale Russian invasion. North Korean artillery support to Russia and Donald Trump's claim to end the war if elected to President enhance global concern. U.S. President Joe Biden fears a Putin victory will see Russia walk out on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The facts are Ukraine became independent of Russia before the collapse of the USSR in December of 1991. The Ukrainian democracy is strong and is becoming more westernized, something that scares Putin as he sees the country as Russian property. Russia aims to have total control and does not accept Ukraine as its own identity. Ukraine is a European democracy under assault by a tyrant. In 2008, Vladimir Putin told then-President George W. Bush that Ukraine was not a country. Russia proceeded to forcefully annex the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 starting the current standing Ukrainian Resistance. The recent war started on Feb. 24, 2022 when Russia invaded the Ukrainian borders.
North Korean artillery and munition factories are currently operating at full capacity in order to send Russia ammunition in exchange for food. More than 10,000 shipping containers of ammunition have traveled from Pyongyang to Moscow since September. “North Korea’s arms factories (for non-Russian exports) operate at 30% capacity due to shortages of raw materials and electricity, the factories producing weapons and artillery shells for Russia are operating at full capacity.” South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik told CNN. The role North Korea is playing to refuel Moscow is rapid whereas help for Ukrainian military defense is being held up by the U.S. Congress.
The force of the Ukrainian people has yet to be stifled. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, showed concern over lack of help and aid from Europe and the United States. An analysis from Stephen Collinson notes that the American First mentality former president and reality TV star Donald Trump instituted has taken percent over any plea Zelenskyy could make. Americans want Congress to focus on problems at home such as the economy, health care coverage, immigration and personal freedoms. The point that Ukraine’s capture by Russia could ignite World War III has been forgotten.
Overshadowed by lobbyists, pop culture and societal movements, little has been said about the rumors regarding the Putin—Trump alliance. Former President Trump has claimed he will end the Russian invasion within 24 hours should he be elected to a new term. Zelenskyy chimed in globally, saying that this claim would only be achievable on terms favorable to Russia. The Zelenskyy response highlighted global concern of how a newly elected Trump Administration will walk out of NATO. If the war was to end on Russian terms U.S. President Joe Biden shares Russia plans to turn on NATO. World War III could potentially be started by two of the biggest global powers and Ukraine is only Russia’s first battle.