Russia and Europe

Russian Empire in 1914

Soviet Union in 1991

Russia, Ukraine, Crimea

The languageUkrainian is the official language, spoken by 70% of the country’s population. Russian is also spoken widely and is the mother tongue of many Ukrainians, especially in the east and in the southern region of Crimea, where ethnic Russians are in the majority.

Buffer between East and West

People

• Vladimir Putin –President of Russia

• Viktor Yanukovych – Former president of Ukraine

Olexander Turchynoy and Arseniy Yatsenyuk—Provisional leaders of Ukraine

What’s the Problem with Putin?

• Putin is seen by many to be corrupt and interested in enriching himself and his friends at the expense of the country

• Russia has been called a “plutocracy” = government rule by rich people“kleptocracy”= government rule by thieves

What was the Problem with Yanukovych?

• Yanukovych was seen by many Ukranians as being under the control of Putin

• Yanukovych had been accused of bankrupting Ukraine to enrich himself. No money for schools, hospitals, etc.

• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26307745