People
There are two main groups of people in Ukraine. There are those who primarily speak Russian and very little of the Ukrainian language. Most of these people are located are located in eastern Ukraine, which is closer to Russia (red on the map).
Then there are those who speak mostly the Ukrainian language, they are mainly concentrated in western Ukraine (blue on the map).
The conflict in Ukraine is partially between these two group. The pro-Russian Ukrainians want to have closer ties with Russia, but the pro-European Ukrainians want to have closer ties with Europe. This divide in the country causes major conflict between its own people.
Government
The Ukrainian president was a man named Viktor Yanukovych. When violent protests began, Yanukovych fled the country and is somewhere in Russia. He says he left because people in Ukraine were trying to kill him. Yanukovych claims he is still president, but Ukrainian lawmakers selected Oleksandr Turchynov to act as their interim president. An interim president is a temporary president. On May 25th 2014 there was a presidential election, and Petro O. Poroshenko was voted as the new president of Ukraine.
There are two main groups of people in Ukraine. There are those who primarily speak Russian and very little of the Ukrainian language. Most of these people are located are located in eastern Ukraine, which is closer to Russia (red on the map).
Then there are those who speak mostly the Ukrainian language, they are mainly concentrated in western Ukraine (blue on the map).
The conflict in Ukraine is partially between these two group. The pro-Russian Ukrainians want to have closer ties with Russia, but the pro-European Ukrainians want to have closer ties with Europe. This divide in the country causes major conflict between its own people.
Government
The Ukrainian president was a man named Viktor Yanukovych. When violent protests began, Yanukovych fled the country and is somewhere in Russia. He says he left because people in Ukraine were trying to kill him. Yanukovych claims he is still president, but Ukrainian lawmakers selected Oleksandr Turchynov to act as their interim president. An interim president is a temporary president. On May 25th 2014 there was a presidential election, and Petro O. Poroshenko was voted as the new president of Ukraine.
Crimea
Crimea is a piece of land just south of the mainland of Ukraine. It's resources include rich farmland and easy access to the Black Sea. In 1954, when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union, Russia gave Crimea to Ukraine. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 many people wanted Crimea to join Russia again, but lawmakers in Ukraine and Crimea decided that Crimea should remain a part of Ukraine. However, Crimea is home to both Ukrainians who side with Russia and Russians. This means that most people in Crimea would prefer to be part of Russia than Europe. On March 21st, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, signed a law that officially made Crimea a part of Russia.
Crimea is a piece of land just south of the mainland of Ukraine. It's resources include rich farmland and easy access to the Black Sea. In 1954, when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union, Russia gave Crimea to Ukraine. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 many people wanted Crimea to join Russia again, but lawmakers in Ukraine and Crimea decided that Crimea should remain a part of Ukraine. However, Crimea is home to both Ukrainians who side with Russia and Russians. This means that most people in Crimea would prefer to be part of Russia than Europe. On March 21st, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, signed a law that officially made Crimea a part of Russia.