Dr. Stephen Jobbitt was bracing for military action overseas but still woke up shocked looking at the pictures.
Russia launched a wide-ranging military attack Thursday in Ukraine, which led to residents trying to flee and the death of 40 Ukrainian soldiers.
Several world leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, condemned the attack and have promised consequences for the “reckless and dangerous acts.”
“I’m not sure how effective (sanctions against Russia) would be, in particular, because it would take almost a full blockade against the Russian aggression to make that effective,” said Stephen Jobbitt, Associate Professor in History with Lakehead University, in an interview with Acadia News.
Several countries have levied further sanctions against Russia and President Vladimir Putin, with Canada instituting further financial penalties and halting all export permits.
Jobbitt noted one reason for the move might have to do with Ukraine wanting to become members of the European Unit (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
“There are groups and factions within Ukraine who have been pushing for membership with NATO, and NATO has been aggressively going after Ukraine. I think some of European-orientated Ukrainians would like to be with not only NATO but the EU as well.”
Ukraine regained its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
