Summary
It is one of the most significant crises with Russia since the end of the Cold War: 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border that the U.S. says could invade within weeks. Meanwhile, American and Russian diplomats have kicked off intense talks. Debra Cagan, a former American diplomat, and Dmitri Trenin, of the Carnegie Moscow Center, join Nick Schifrin to discuss.
Terms:
NATO:
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance of the United States and nearly 30 allies in Europe and North America. Because NATO was originally formed partly to counter the Soviet states led by Russia before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia still considers NATO an adversarial alliance.
Five Facts
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Who
met on Monday to discuss Ukraine, and where did they meet?
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What
is the source of worry for the U.S. about the current situation on the Ukrainian border?
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Why
has Russia amassed 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine?
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What
are some of Russia's demands for the U.S. and its allies?
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How
might these negotiations help ease tensions and avoid deadly conflict or invasion?
Focus Questions
Why do you think the U.S. is involved in talks over threats to countries on another continent? What U.S. interests are involved?
Media literacy:
Why do you think the producers chose the two experts included in this segment? Why are their backgrounds significant in that choice?
