OFM News: Ukraine Invaded, U.S. Sends Aid

On February 24, Russia initiated an all-out attack on its southwestern neighbor, Ukraine. The large-scale military invasion is the result of a conflict dating back to 2014. The war has caused at least 8,100 deaths, and 870,000 have been displaced, according to Reuters. 

Both countries entered peace talks in late February; however, Russian armed forces continued to bombard residential areas of the Ukrainian city Kharhiv during negotiations. Talks have ended, seemingly without a breakthrough, though both sides agreed to talk again. 

Both the U.S. and other Western allies have imposed the harshest financial sanctions in history on Russia and have continued to build on these penalties as the fighting continues. Western countries agreed as of February 26 to block some Russian banks from SWIFT, a global messaging system which prevents blocked banks from making global transactions. Already, Russia’s economy is reeling from the impact of these penalties. 

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of war crimes after reports of shelling an orphanage and kindergarten outside of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Across Ukraine, thousands of civilians are enlisting to defend against the invasion. An estimated 18,000 weapons have been distributed in the Kyiv region. 

The U.S. has so far maintained that it will not involve troops in any Ukrainian conflict, though up to $350 million in military aid to Ukraine is on its way, and the U.S. has stationed 7,000 additional troops in Germany .