UKRAINE CRISIS TODAY

988

Ukraine and Russia originated with the Kyivan Rus. Kyiv, now Ukraine’s capital, was at the center of Kyivan Rus. Ukraine and Russia both claim Kyivan Rus as part of their cultural history.

1922

After almost a thousand years of conflict and shifting borders, Russia and Ukraine became two of the founding members of the Soviet Union.

1932

A famine caused by Stalin’s policies for the Soviet Union kills millions of people, mainly ethnic Ukrainians. The disaster is known as the Holodomor.

1941

Nazi Germany and the Axis powers occupied Ukraine during World War II

1990

Anti-communist protests sweep central and Eastern Europe, starting in Poland and spreading throughout the Soviet bloc. In Ukraine, more than 400,000 people join hands in a human chain stretching some 400 miles.

1990

The Rada, the new Ukrainian parliament formed out of the previous Soviet legislature, voted to declare independence from the Soviet Union.

1991

Following a failed coup in Moscow, the Ukrainian parliament declares independence a second time on Aug. 24. The date is celebrated as Ukraine's official Independence Day.

The Soviet Union officially dissolves on Dec. 26.

1994

Ukraine is left with the world's third-largest nuclear stockpile. They agree to trade away their nuclear weapons and other nuclear infrastructure in exchange for guarantees that the U.S., the U.K., and Russia would "respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine."

2008

January that Ukraine formally requests to start the process of joining NATO. The US supports Ukraine's membership, but France and Germany oppose it after Russia voices displeasure.

2013

Ukrainian President Yanukovych, refuses to sign an agreement with the European Union to bring Ukraine into a free trade agreement. He cites pressure from Russia as a reason for his decision.

Ukrainian protesters begin camping out in Kyiv's Maidan Square and occupy government buildings, including Kyiv's city hall and the justice ministry.

2014

In Ukraine violence between police and protesters leaves more than 100 dead in the single bloodiest week in Ukraine's post-Soviet history.

A recall election is held for the Ukrainian President, he flees to Russia. The election goes forward and a new government is put in place and announces they will sign the EU Agreement. Russia declares that the change in Ukraine's government is an illegal coup.

Russia invades and then annexes the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Two secessionist regions, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the neighboring Luhansk People’s Republic break off from Ukraine.

2021

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia demands “security guarantees,” including an assurance by NATO that Ukraine will never join the group.

USE THE TIMELINE TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

TYPE IN THE WHITE BOXES.

WHAT ORGANIZATION DID UKRAINE WANT TO JOIN THAT RUSSIA DID NOT WANT THEM TO JOIN?

WHICH EVENT ON THE TIMELINE SUPPORTS PUTIN’S CLAIM THAT “RUSSIANS AND UKRAINIANS ARE ONE PEOPLE, A SINGLE WHOLE.”?

WHAT EVENT ON THE TIMELINE DOES THIS PICTURE SHOW? WHO WAS INVOLVED AND WHY?

WHEN DID UKRAINE TRADE AWAY ITS NUCLEAR STOCKPILE? WHAT DID IT GET IN RETURN?

KEY TERMS:

NATO: NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION: AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL MILITARY ALLIANCE BETWEEN 27 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, 2 NORTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES, AND 1 EURASIAN COUNTRY

ANNEX: TO TAKE POSSESSION OF AN AREA OF LAND OR A COUNTRY

SOVEREIGNTY: SUPREME POWER OR AUTHORITY

COUP: A SUDDEN, VIOLENT, AND ILLEGAL SEIZURE OF POWER FROM A GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?

KEY TERMS:

SEPARATISTS: A PERSON WHO SUPPORTS THE SEPARATION OF A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM A LARGER BODY ON THE BASIS OF ETHNICITY, RELIGION, OR GENDER.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS MANY SUSPECT RUSSIA INTENDS TO INVADE ALL OF UKRAINE, NOT JUST SEPARATIST REGIONS?

HOW HAVE UKRAINIANS REACTED TO NEWS OF THE POTENTIAL INVASION?

WHY DID PUTIN ORDER THE CURRENT INVASION?

EXPLORE THIS MAP OF UKRAINE, WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU ABOUT THE SEPARATIST REGIONS?

HOW ARE THE US AND EUROPE RESPONDING?

KEY TERMS:

SANCTIONS: A THREATENED PENALTY FOR DISOBEYING A LAW OR RULE

WHAT HAS THE US CUT RUSSIA OFF FROM?

LIST HOW GERMANY, THE EU, AND THE UK RESPONDED TO RUSSIA'S ACTIONS?

WHY DOES RUSSIA SAY THEY CAN INVADE UKRAINE?

HOW ARE OTHER COUNTRIES REACTING?

KEY TERMS:

UNITED NATIONS: AN INTERNATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FORMED IN 1945 TO INCREASE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION AMONG ITS MEMBER COUNTRIES

MARTIN KIMANI REPRESENTING KENYA AT THE U.N. STATES “THIS SITUATION ECHOES OUR HISTORY” AND THEN DESCRIBES HOW MODERN AFRICANS DID NOT DRAW THEIR OWN BORDERS. WHAT HISTORICAL EVENT IS KIMANI EXPLAINING?

WHAT DOES HE SAY WOULD LEAD AFRICA TO STILL LEAD BLOODY WARS? HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE?

WHAT DOES HE STATE THAT KENYA CONDEMNS?

Link to Part 2 of this Lesson Series

CREATED BY @MSGREENEEDU USING RESOURCES FROM PBS NEWSHOUR, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NPR, THE GUARDIAN & NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC