The University of Wisconsin-Platteville held an open forum on Feb. 17, to address the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The forum included insight from four panelists regarding the ramifications on foreign policy and global security as well as different perspectives on the issue. Panelists included: Dr. Andrey Ivanov, history professor; Casey Magee, Peace Corps volunteer; Dr. Travis Nelson, associate professor of political science; and Inna Stepaniuk, Fulbright Scholar.
Ivanov began the forum with a lesson on the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. Ivanov said that wave of civil unrest and demonstrations in Ukraine began in Nov. 2013 and lasted until Feb. 2014. The demonstrations took place in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (“Independence Square”) in Kiev and demanded closer European integration by the Ukraine to end the widespread corruption in government. The protests created several consequences including: the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, fleeing of President Yanukovych and other high government officials, and the invasion of Russian troops into Crimea.
Stepaniuk is a native Ukranian and Fulbright Scholar recipient working in the School of Education. She shared personal stories of Russian terrorism in Ukraine along with American media portrayal of the war.
One story she shared was that of a father in Ukraine who was taken away and not seen for two years. The Ukrainian government took him away to fight Russian terrorism. The family did not know where he was, when he was coming home, or if he was alive. Stepaniuk said the worst part is that the same situation happens to dozens of Ukrainian families every day and will continue until the country is no longer at war.
“I am a girl who was born in the Ukraine, raised in the Ukraine and represents the Fulbright organization,” Stepaniuk said. “I would like to thank everyone for coming to this event and for giving their support to my country.”
Magee telecommuted from Seattle for this event and is a Peace Corps volunteer that just returned from the Ukraine. He and several Peace Corps volunteers recently began a non-profit organization, Bridge to Ukraine, to raise money for displaced Ukrainians. Magee said they have provided over $8,000 to three refugee camps to aid Ukrainian families.
Dr. Nelson provided possible outcomes of this conflict between Russia and Ukraine and how it will create a global impact. He explained that due to the uncertainty of Russia’s government, no one knows for sure what the result of this conflict will be.
The forum took place in Doudna Hall and attracted students, professors and community members.
“This issue has been going on for over a year and I think many people don’t even realize it’s happening,” Megan O’Kane, junior criminal justice major said. “We all need to be aware of major global issues like this because it will one day affect us too.”