Conflict Resolution - France’s Perspective on Ukraine Crisis

Conflict Resolution:

France’s Perspective on Ukraine Crisis

Minh Nguyen

POLS 351

Professor Zunes

May 3, 2015

I. Roots of Conflict

        Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine, a country of forty-five million people has struggled to gain independence and determine its own destiny. Now, it is drowning in an ongoing and deadly crisis began as a protest against the government postponing plans that promise potential trading ties with the European Union and has catalyzed a grave standoff between Russia and the West (McMahon, March 2014). The crisis arises from the twenty years of fragile Russian-relying government, weak economy controlled by oligarchs and deep division between its “linguistically, religiously and ethnically different eastern and western halves” (McMahon, March 2014).

        After the 2004 Orange Revolution, Viktor Yushchenko became the president. It created a profound difference between pro-European western and central Ukraine and Russian-oriented southern and eastern Ukraine. Furthermore, prolonged infighting between elites plus financial crisis of 2008 hindered reforms and economic growth. In 2010, campaigning in favor of strengthening bonds with Russia brought to the presidency  Viktor Yanukovych, who was not only a corrupt but embezzled as much as $10 billion along with his family (McMahon, March 2014). Not only that, he signaled that he would sign a trade association agreement with the European Union in late 2013. However, under pressure from the Kremlin, Yanukovych called off those plans and expressed “concerns” over the potential damage to Ukrainian industry by European competition. The cancellation enraged and provoked demonstrations known as Euromaiden in Kiev by protesters seeking to form closer tides with Europe and standing up against corruption.

        The Yanukovich’s administration cracked down after three months of intense and violent protests, which turned into a bloodbath and resulted in high casualties, by radicalized demonstrators. The Yanukovich’s ouster in February 2014 not only exacerbated the division between the two halves of Ukraine, but also inadvertently granted a “back door” for Russia to take a grip of the Crimean Peninsula and retain its sphere of influence (MacMahon, March 2014). Ukraine was torn apart, which has caused great economic damage and instability in the region, has drawn international attention.

II. Major Powers

        Russia-France political relationship has been very strained. While our government truly enjoys building a strong relationship with Russia, French society is very concerned about the country’s growing authoritarianism. French public opinion holds strongly critical views of Putin’s administration. The two countries both have a common ground in going after economic cooperation, yet asymmetries in economic, social and political structures and distinctions in foreign policies seem to be major obstacles (Russian analytical digest, 2013). In addition, their leaderships and ours have strongly divergent views on certain issues regarding Syria, energy strategy, NATO and now the future of Ukraine.