{"id":783,"date":"2025-03-14T19:50:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T13:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/?p=783"},"modified":"2025-03-14T19:50:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T13:50:29","slug":"how-did-we-get-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/?p=783","title":{"rendered":"How did we get here"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deep Dive into where we are in 2025 with the Ukraine issue<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Background<\/h3>\n

The Belovezha Accords emerged amid the Soviet Union\u2019s rapid decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Several factors set the stage:<\/p>\n

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  • Gorbachev\u2019s Reforms:<\/strong> Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost<\/em> (openness) and perestroika<\/em> (restructuring) to modernize the USSR. While these policies aimed to revitalize the system, they instead fueled nationalist movements and exposed deep economic and political weaknesses.<\/li>\n
  • Economic Collapse:<\/strong> By 1991, the Soviet economy was in freefall\u2014widespread shortages, a plummeting ruble, and systemic inefficiencies crippled daily life, eroding public faith in the central government.<\/li>\n
  • Nationalism and Independence:<\/strong> Republics such as Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states increasingly sought autonomy or outright independence, driven by decades of suppressed national identity.<\/li>\n
  • August 1991 Coup:<\/strong> A failed coup by hardline communists against Gorbachev in August 1991 weakened his authority and accelerated the disintegration of central power. Boris Yeltsin, president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), emerged as a key figure opposing the coup, boosting his influence.<\/li>\n
  • Legal Precedent:<\/strong> The three signatory republics\u2014Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus\u2014were original founders of the USSR under the 1922 Treaty on the Creation of the USSR. Their coordinated exit carried symbolic and legal weight in dissolving the union they had helped form.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    By late 1991, Gorbachev\u2019s efforts to preserve the USSR through a new Union Treaty were faltering. The Belovezha Accords delivered the decisive blow.<\/p>\n

    The Signing<\/h3>\n

    The Belovezha Accords were signed on December 8, 1991, at a government hunting lodge near Viskuli in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a remote forest in western Belarus. The key participants were:<\/p>\n

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    • Russia:<\/strong> President Boris Yeltsin and First Deputy Prime Minister Gennady Burbulis.<\/li>\n
    • Ukraine:<\/strong> President Leonid Kravchuk.<\/li>\n
    • Belarus:<\/strong> Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Stanislav Shushkevich and Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kebich.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Initially framed as a discussion on economic cooperation and energy supplies (e.g., oil and gas flows to Ukraine and Belarus), the meeting quickly pivoted to a more radical agenda: dissolving the Soviet Union entirely. The decision was bold and somewhat spontaneous, driven by Yeltsin\u2019s ambition to assert Russia\u2019s dominance and Kravchuk\u2019s push for Ukrainian independence, following a December 1 referendum in which 90% of Ukrainians voted for sovereignty.<\/p>\n

      The document itself was drafted rapidly, with input from legal advisors such as Russia\u2019s Sergei Shakhrai. It was concise\u2014only 14 articles\u2014reflecting the urgency and the need for a clear, immediate declaration rather than a detailed treaty.<\/p>\n

      Content of the Accords<\/h3>\n

      The Belovezha Accords (officially titled the Agreement Establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States<\/em>) consisted of a preamble and 14 articles. Below is a breakdown:<\/p>\n

      Preamble<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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      • Declared that \u201cthe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as a subject of international law and a geopolitical reality, is ceasing its existence.\u201d<\/li>\n
      • Stated that the signatories were acting based on \u201chistorical commonality\u201d and the will of their peoples (e.g., Ukraine\u2019s referendum).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Key Articles<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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        • Formation of the CIS (Article 1):<\/strong> Established the Commonwealth of Independent States as a voluntary association of sovereign states, not a successor state to the USSR.<\/li>\n
        • Sovereignty (Article 2):<\/strong> Affirmed the independence and territorial integrity of each signatory state, guaranteeing mutual recognition of borders.<\/li>\n
        • End of Soviet Laws (Article 5):<\/strong> Stated that USSR laws would no longer apply in the signatories\u2019 territories after ratification, though transitional coordination was implied.<\/li>\n
        • Cooperation (Articles 6-7):<\/strong> Committed the states to collaborate on defense, economic policy, and foreign affairs within the CIS framework, including maintaining a unified military command temporarily.<\/li>\n
        • Human Rights (Article 4):<\/strong> Pledged adherence to international norms on human rights and freedoms.<\/li>\n
        • Open Membership (Article 9):<\/strong> Allowed other former Soviet republics to join the CIS if they accepted the accords\u2019 terms.<\/li>\n
        • Nuclear Weapons (Article 6):<\/strong> Addressed the USSR\u2019s nuclear arsenal, with an implicit understanding (later formalized) that Russia would inherit control, while Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan would eventually denuclearize.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The accords avoided micromanaging practicalities, leaving issues like currency, trade, and military division to future negotiations.<\/p>\n

          Immediate Aftermath<\/h3>\n

          Ratification<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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          • Belarus:<\/strong> Ratified on December 10, 1991.<\/li>\n
          • Ukraine:<\/strong> Ratified on December 10, 1991.<\/li>\n
          • Russia:<\/strong> Ratified on December 12, 1991.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            These swift approvals cemented the accords\u2019 legitimacy.<\/p>\n

            Gorbachev\u2019s Reaction<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            Gorbachev called the accords illegal, arguing that dissolving the USSR required broader consent from all 15 republics and a constitutional process. However, he lacked the power to reverse them.<\/p>\n

            Global Notification<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            Yeltsin called U.S. President George H.W. Bush on December 8 to inform him of the decision, emphasizing stability (e.g., nuclear control under Russia). The West largely welcomed the end of the Soviet threat.<\/p>\n

            Alma-Ata Protocol<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            On December 21, 1991, 11 of the 15 former Soviet republics met in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and signed a protocol expanding the CIS, formalizing the USSR\u2019s end. Gorbachev resigned on December 25, and the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin that night.<\/p>\n

            Implications<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            End of the Cold War<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            The accords dismantled the USSR, ending the bipolar world order dominated by the U.S.-Soviet rivalry.<\/p>\n

            Russia as Successor<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            Russia inherited the USSR\u2019s UN Security Council seat, nuclear arsenal, and much of its international standing, though its territory and influence were significantly reduced.<\/p>\n

            Independence Movements<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            The accords emboldened other republics (e.g., Georgia, Armenia, the Baltics) to solidify their independence, though some faced conflicts (e.g., Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh).<\/p>\n

            Economic and Social Chaos<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            The abrupt dissolution triggered economic turmoil\u2014hyperinflation, unemployment, and disrupted trade\u2014across the former Soviet space.<\/p>\n

            Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Historical Milestone<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            The Belovezha Accords are seen as one of the 20th century\u2019s most consequential agreements, reshaping global geopolitics.<\/p>\n

            Controversy<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            Some, especially in Russia, later criticized Yeltsin and the signatories for acting rashly, blaming them for post-Soviet instability. Nostalgia for the USSR persists in parts of the region.<\/p>\n

            CIS Weakness<\/strong><\/h4>\n

            The Commonwealth of Independent States never became a strong unifying body, as national interests diverged, and some members (e.g., Ukraine) distanced themselves over time.<\/p>\n

            Fun Fact<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            The name \u201cBelovezha\u201d comes from the Belovezhskaya Pushcha forest, a UNESCO site famous for its bison and pristine wilderness. The serene setting sharply contrasted with the monumental decision made there.<\/p>\n

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            This revision corrects grammatical issues, improves flow, and enhances clarity while preserving the integrity of your original content. Let me know if you need further refinements!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Deep Dive into where we are in 2025 with the Ukraine issue Background The Belovezha Accords emerged amid the Soviet Union\u2019s rapid decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Several factors set the stage: Gorbachev\u2019s Reforms: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) to modernize the USSR. While these policies aimed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-president-trumps-actions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":807,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions\/807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kendreger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}