Whether one is living in a third world country or are in Russia amidst the action, nearly all have heard of the events that have recently taken place in Ukraine. Even those with limited knowledge on the topic know the basics but there is more that is important to one’s knowledge of the “crisis” in Ukraine.

In 1994, the United States signed an agreement called the Budapest Memorandum, which committed the US to protect Ukraine in exchange for a relinquish of the Ukrainian nuclear weapons program.

Along with this, there is speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be trying to recreate the Soviet Union once again, especially when he uttered the phrase, “The collapse of the Soviet Union was the major geopolitical disaster of the century,” in a speech given to his fellow Russians. It is also to the understanding of many that Putin timed his attack exactly so it would land on the start of the Olympics, perhaps to be used as a deliberate distraction so that other countries would not interfere.

It is clear that it’s the United States’ duty to help protect Ukraine and prohibit Putin from expanding his reign. It is critical to prevent Putin from expanding Russian control into neighboring countries. Although the most beneficial way to go about this is arguable, the actual need to live up to the promises we’ve made in the past is not.

Russia has obviously made some successful attempts to extend it’s borders, and there’s a likely chance they’ll attempt this again in the future. While the United States shouldn’t involve itself so thoroughly in other countries issues that it becomes the Global Police, this is one issue that the US cannot ignore.