The Christian Science Monitor

Behind Ukraine-Russia naval tensions, a more brutal economic war

Russia's conflict with Ukraine is back in the headlines after Russia seized three Ukrainian military vessels and their crews near Crimea, triggering a declaration of martial law in Ukraine and a fresh escalation of tensions between the two formerly friendly neighbors.

But very little attention has been paid to the economic slugfest between the two, which has caused far more destruction than Russia's sanctions war with the West over the past five years, and will leave lasting consequences even if they manage to resolve the present, seemingly intractable, political conflict.

Russia and Ukraine were joined at the hip as part of a single state for more than three centuries. Both countries were hard hit by the rupture of traditional ties when the Soviet Union collapsed almost three decades ago, but that greatly intensified after a pro-Western government came to power in Kiev in early 2014, and Russia responded by annexing Crimea and promoting a separatist war in eastern

Pressure, and wait for changeFriendly views of people, more or less Unique products made for Russia 

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor12 min read
These Migrants Bound For The US Border Found Their Dream Opportunity In Mexico
When Dales Louissaint left Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2016 amid growing lawlessness and economic crisis, his sights were set on the United States. For him, the American dream meant learning a new language, going to college, and becoming a lawyer.  Tod
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
Baltimore Bridge Collapse Raises Port Safety Issues
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore left six construction workers dead after a massive cargo ship collided with it on Tuesday, trapping about a dozen ships in the harbor, and diverting traffic and cargo.  While some people voice
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
Resilience Against Russian Lies
When the British think tank Chatham House decided last year to measure the resilience of countries to foreign interference, it chose the tiny nation of Moldova as a pilot study. The timing was perfect. In early March, Moldova’s national intelligence

Related Books & Audiobooks