Here's What's Happening In Ukraine And Why It Matters
The capital of Ukraine is on fire after the most violent day since the former Soviet republic became independent in 1991.
What happens next will have "civilization-defining" implications.
The country of 46 million is caught between ties to Russia and the West, with lucrative gas pipelines connecting the two sides.
The geopolitical clash is being played out by Kremlin-backed forces loyal to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and citizens calling for integration with the European Union.
In November, Yanukovych snubbed an open invitation to integrate with the West and veered back into Russian President Vladimir Putin's orbit. Protesters took to the streets, and over time their demands evolved into calls for the resignation of Yanukovych and his government over perceived corruption and abuse of power.
Now, as people are dying on both sides of battle lines drawn in Kiev's Independence Square (aka Maidan), the stakes and tensions have never been higher. And both sides are digging in.
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Keep reading What's Happening In Ukraine – Business Insider.
