Obama should take tougher stance on Russian aggression

For Ukraine, 2014 has been a year marked by escalating conflict and tension. Protests for governmental change, the dissolution of Parliament, Russian annexation of Crimea and trouble at the Russian border have strained the Ukrainian people. Given the reemerging Cold War tensions and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions, the time has come for the Obama administration to step up its policy and demand that Ukrainian autonomy be respected and that Russian attempts to annex cease.

The annexation of Crimea last March by Putin was an egregious violation of international law with regard to Ukrainian autonomy. The presence of Russian troops at the eastern border of Ukraine should be dismissed, and the propping up of pro-Russian rebels in the area should not be tolerated. The Obama administration’s policy of sending diplomatic messages to Russia has failed. If the United States continues to make no tangible efforts, Russia and the global community will cease to respect U.S. strategy.

Obama needs to aid Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and negotiate with Russia for an end to border invasion and military influence in eastern Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainian government needs to stand up for its own autonomy. It needs to temper the demands of pro-Russian rebels and foster an inclusive environment that allows for the democratic recognition of all factions and parties involved.

The lack of action by Obama in Ukraine is a microcosm of the administration’s foreign policy as a whole. The hands-off, laissez-faire approach during the Arab Spring has translated to a similar employment of diplomatic efforts in Eastern Europe. The situation in Ukraine, however, is fundamentally different. That is to say, though Ukrainians rose up to demand change, the actions of Russia and the events in Crimea have altered the dynamic and shifted the stasis of conflict toward Russian aggression rather than civil unrest. Russia has violated international norms and has, in a sense, implemented Cold War tactics to reach its goals of expansion and annexation. The United States should not tolerate these sorts of strategies if it seeks to prevent further aggression from Russia.

“Russian aggression” is an umbrella term to describe the events happening in eastern Ukraine. It largely translates to actions devised and orchestrated by Putin, who resembles the belligerent, expansionist and power-hungry leaders of the 20th century. The lack of negotiations by the Obama administration allows Putin to further his goals. America needs to exert its influence and make it clear that human rights, autonomy and territorial rights must be recognized and respected.

As the events in Ukraine continue to develop, the Obama administration must employ an influential philosophy and potent action to protect the Ukrainian people, then normalize threats of action against other eastern European countries and temper the ambitions and expansion of Putin and Russian troops. It is time for President Obama and his administration to step up to the plate.

Athanasius Georgy is a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. His column, “On the World Stage,” runs Thursdays.