By Gene Ogorodov
The incorporation of the Autonomous Region of Crimea into the Russian Federation is a flagrant violation of the Budapest Memorandum, which ensured the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Since this action by the Kremlin contravenes international law it is a justification for war between US and Russia. The danger to the entire globe of such a course cannot be over stated. I soundly condemn the behavior of the Russian Federation.
However, it is important to remember that the financial backing of Euromaidan by the United States constituted a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. In other words the US led the world down the garden path of tearing up the Budapest Memorandum.
The flagrant ignoring of international law is heinous by any standards, but this is worse because the Budapest Memorandum was signed by Ukraine, US, UK, and Russia in exchange for Ukraine surrendering the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Once again Great Powers have conspired to demonstrate that the only way for a country to protect its interests is through the stockpiling of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Russia must withdraw its territorial claims to Crimea. The best way to ensure that is the international recognition of Crimea as an independent country. Popular democratic self-determination supersedes the rights of any central government to control traditional boundaries. The willingness of the world community to accept the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union demonstrates that principle. The secession of Crimea from Ukraine is no different than secession of Ukraine from the Soviet Union. However, no Great Power can unilaterally expand its borders with or without popular support. The stability of the world depends upon the Great Powers guaranteeing the territorial integrity of its neighbors unequivocally.
Furthermore, the Neo-Nazi government in Kiev must be removed and replaced by a democratic government which believes in rule of law. It is completely outrageous that the EU and the US facilitated the rise of the provisional government. Now, the West must undo this error. If current events forewarn of the future, Russia will try to re-establish a stable government in Kiev. Needless to say, anyone Russia puts in power in Kiev will not be pro-Western.
All the parties involved in the crisis in Ukraine have pursued the dangerous and irresponsible courses of action. As events continue to transpire the peace of Europe becomes ever more tenuous. The international community needs to unite in the cause of peace and seek to diffuse the tinderbox that Ukraine has become. Posterity will not remember this generation fondly if we fail to bring Ukraine back from the brink.
