Rachel Stalker, ‘Doah Staff Writer
April 30, 2014

’DOAH PHOTO COURTESY OF BBC NEWS

The political situation between Russia and Ukraine continues to threaten the safety of Russian citizens in Ukraine, and the citizens of Ukraine as well. More and more military action is being taken everyday, by military forces in Kiev and Russian forces close to the Ukrainian border. As of Friday, Apr. 25th, tension continued as the United States has stepped in to warn officials in Russia of the dangers of starting military action against Ukraine. According to CNN, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Russia’s military action in Ukraine, “a full-throated effort to actively sabotage the democratic process through gross external intimidation.”

Kerry also stated, “If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake.” Many countries in Western Europe, and the United States are supporting Ukraine in their attempts to negotiate peacefully with Russia. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made few attempts at de-escalating the tension. Officials in Moscow are claiming that the interim government set up in Kiev is “illegitimate,” according to CNN.

 Tens of thousands of troops stand at the border of Ukraine and Russia, armed and prepared for military action, said the BBC. The week of Apr. 13, a pact was made in Geneva, Switzerland between Russia and Ukraine agreeing that all pro-Russian separatists leave the official premises and give up their arms, and that they would be granted amnesty if they left peacefully, according to the BBC. As of Apr. 25, the separatists had not backed down.

 On Friday Apr. 25, pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine seized a bus filled with international military observers, according to the B.B.C. The bus was seized outside of the town Sloviansk. Those seized from the bus included seven representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and also five Ukrainian army personnel and a bus driver, according to Ukraine’s interior ministry Negotiations were still being discussed late Friday afternoon on when the observers would be released, as Russia accused the West of wanting to “seize” Ukraine.

 Ukraine has warned Russia that any crossing over into their territory would be considered military invasion. The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to start World War Three, and if they did, that it would spread conflict rapidly throughout the rest of Europe as well, as stated by the BBC.