Ukraine
The contagion of revolt and the people it encompasses has been a subject of discourse for hundreds of years, but with the mantra of revolution spreading to each corner of the globe, it is becoming increasingly prevalent.
The looming presence of the Arab Spring and the pandemic of revolution has now reached the Ukraine in full force as people gather in Independence Square at the capital of Kiev. Similar to all cases of revolution, the Ukrainian public has created a movement of collective sentiment fueled by defiance in order for the Ukrainian government to fulfill its promises.
The standoff between the government and Ukrainian citizens is a display of distaste towards President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to back out of signing a trade pact with the EU, despite previous negotiations and declarations that were firmly set in place. That trade agreement would have allowed free trade with EU countries and a possible membership of the Ukraine into the EU. Posing problems for the country, Russia has put immense pressure on the Ukraine to reject the pact and threatened to place trade sanctions if the Ukraine signs with the EU -- which could ultimately disrupt the Ukrainian economy. Russia also agreed to a $15 billion bailout in order to forego the pact, but suspended payments early on.
February 18th marked the deadliest day of protests, as demonstrators lit the city center ablaze with any material they could find, clashing with security forces amidst smoke and debris. It is reported the death toll has reached 26 with nearly 425 people injured. As the city still continues to burn, Yanukovych calls for a cease to the violence, although reconciliation seems far from achievable.
Political leaders in the United States, EU, and Russia are presently discussing their roles within the unrest, watching as another country becomes burdened by the quest for power and public voice.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
