By: Camryn Johnson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The University of Arkansas’ Honors College plans to discuss and debate the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
The White House announced a “premeditated attack” occurred February 24. President Biden described Russia’s actions as a “brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation.”
A panel of international experts will gather Tuesday, March 1, from 5 to 6:30 in the Honors’ Student Lounge to participate in a Q&A session.
World Languages Department Teaching Assistant Professor Nadja Berkovich and U of A History Department Professor and Historian of Soviet Union and Russia Trish Starks will both take part in the panel.
Born in Ukraine, Berkovich was raised in a Russian culture. With ties to both nations, she provided a look into the perspective of Russian citizens.
“People of Russia are very messy and divided and have different positions like the [United States] had during the elections, so it depends what kind of Russians you come across.”
A primary cause for the divisions come from a heavily controlled Russian media. Berkovich said the government has even gone as far as banning citizens from using three words regarding the attacks – war, invasion and encroachment.
Berkovich has access to different sources and is critical of any invasion.
“I have a different perspective and I think my friends in Russia will share the perspective that it’s an atrocity what this criminal president is doing and it’s a great loss for Russian people. War is not something that you can rationally make sense of.”
Starks has a message for those attending Tuesday’s program.
“I want more than anything for people to get the human dimension of this conflict out of this rather than just tanks and guns and planes, but thinking about the impact on people and how this is tearing a vibrant culture apart.”
Some of the tactics being used to mitigate Russia’s assault toward Ukraine include banking measures, social media and travel in an effort to isolate Russia from the rest of the world.
POSSIBLE SANCTION IMPACTS:
- Rising oil prices – prices in Northwest Arkansas increased by 10 cents to $3.64 per gallon in the last two weeks. Nationwide, diesel prices jumped 12 cents to $4.02 per gallon.
- Stock market – stocks tumbled as Wall Street is concerned about the impact of Russia’s attempted takeover of Ukraine, according to CNN.
- Shipping – FedEx, and UPS freeze shipments to Ukraine and Russia, according to online statements. A third agency, DHL, is following suit. The three agencies are the world’s largest.
- Sports – FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams from competing at both the club and international levels including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
More information on the discussion panel can be found at news.uark.edu.