The former Ukrainian President Yanukovych postponed a plan to sign an agreement aimed at intensifying Ukraine-Europe trade ties on Nov. 21, 2013, which directly led to the recent Ukraine crisis. The opposition protested against his pro-Russian attitude and required him to step down.

There are both domestic and foreign influences behind the situation in Ukraine right now. Since Ukraine's independence 20 years ago, conflicts between different political factions have been constant, and the pro-west and pro-Russia parties have been engaged in a continuous battle. Obviously, neither the ruling party nor the opposition have a clear consensus on the development path of the country and its foreign strategy.

The strategic position of Ukraine is very important. The US and the EU want to continue to compress Russia’s strategic space by pulling Ukraine into the Western sphere of influence, while Russia is determined to continue the strategic front of its rejuvenation by maintaining its influence over Ukraine.

If Ukraine wants to depend on foreign forces to solve its domestic problems, it may find that things do not turn out as planned. It is not wise for its domestic political factions to invest all their faith in either the West or Russia.

Russia’s tough attitude may cause an extreme reaction, and the West’s sanctions against Russia will only make the situation more complicated. The West has accused Russia of violating Ukraine’s territory sovereignty, while Russia blames the West for their double standards because they make a habit of interfering in other countries’ domestic affairs.

China has no exclusive interests involved. China's position is that the starting point for resolving the Ukraine crisis is to protect the fundamental interests of the Ukrainian people and maintain a peaceful and stable regional environment.

Both domestic and foreign forces are responsible for the current crisis. It is imperative for all parties to avoid doing anything to increase regional tension. The crisis must be resolved through calm political and diplomatic measures.

The article is edited and translated from《乌克兰局势为何“事出有因”》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, author: Jia Xiudong.