Ukraine began to make headlines in February 2014. In the history of the country Ukraine has been maintaining close ties with Russia. It gets its energy needs especially gas from Russia at a subsidized rate and Russian gas lines runs through Ukraine to reach Europe where it makes most of its foreign sales and income. In the meantime, jobs and other economic conditions led Ukraine to consider options of joining the European Union (EU). However, Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych change course and signed a $15 billion bailout agreement and calling for closer economic ties with Russia causing majority of Ukrainian to start street protests.
Ukraine has a population of 46 million and ethnic Russians dominate the east and south where Crimea region is located. Protests by people who want Ukraine to join the EU began in the capital Kiev and soon spread over to other parts of the country. President Yanukovych is using police to quell the uprising and it could lead to loss of lives if the struggle continues. The EU and the United States are closely monitoring developments in Ukraine. President Putin of Russia considers Ukraine an alley and any deviation on its western border may drive him to take drastic actions.