Five Ways That the Ukraine War Has Changed the World
2023-02-23
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1Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. One year into its war with Ukraine, thousands of soldiers on both sides are dead.
2Many civilians have been killed and thousands of others have left their homes looking for safety and a better life.
3Here are five ways the Associated Press says the war in Ukraine has changed the world.
4The war in Europe made nations reconsider their armed forces after many years of limiting military spending.
5For example, military leaders now believe they need more guns, tanks and ammunition.
6Before the Russian invasion, most experts thought modern warfare would require high-technology tools, such as drones or unmanned aircraft.
7While drones and satellites are an important part of the fighting, it turns out that war requires the same tools as in the past.
8Before the war, then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "the old concepts of fighting big tank battles...are over."
9Now Germany has sent tanks and equipment to Ukraine and Britain is considering such a move.
10Both the U.S. and France are increasing weapons production and military spending.
11Patrick Bury is a security expert who teaches at the University of Bath, in England.
12"It is, for the moment at least, being shown that in Ukraine, conventional warfare...is back," Bury said.
13Before the war started, Russian President Vladimir Putin thought the invasion would hurt NATO.
14However, the military alliance seems stronger than before.
15In addition, Sweden and Finland asked to join the group.
16The European Union has set aside political tensions and sent equipment and aid to Ukraine.
17It has also placed financial restrictions on Russia as punishment.
18The two groups - NATO and the European Union - have seemed united for one year.
19But the question is whether all the countries involved can cooperate for many years to come.
20Jens Stoltenberg is NATO's secretary general.
21"Russia is planning for a long war," he said. But NATO, he added, was also ready for "the long haul."
22The division between Western Europe and the old Soviet Union was once known as the "Iron Curtain."
23After the fall of the Berlin Wall and changes that brought democracy to Eastern Europe, people said the curtain had come down.
24Now, many of the western influences and businesses that grew in Russia over the past 30 years have moved out.
25For example, the companies Ikea and McDonald's are no longer in Russia.
26But Russia is not completely isolated.
27Russian President Vladimir Putin has strengthened his country's connections with China, Iran and North Korea.
28Russia has been using Iranian drones.
29Russia is also influencing groups in the Middle East and Africa.
30Some countries, such as India, are waiting to choose sides.
31Tracey German is an expert in conflict and security at Kings College in London.
32German said the war has widened the distance between nations supporting Ukraine and those on the side of Russia and China.
33Food markets in Africa are without grain and cooking oil, and homes in Europe are cold because of the war.
34Before the war, much of the grain and vegetable oil sent to the Middle East and Africa came from Ukraine and Russia.
35Heating gas and oil for much of Europe came from Russia.
36Supplies of both food and fuel have decreased and prices have sharply increased.
37Now, countries are thinking about ways to provide their own food and energy.
38Ships carrying grain are once again leaving from Ukrainian ports and prices have started to come down.
39However, security expert German said, the fighting has shown "the fragility" of an interconnected world.
40For the short-term, many European countries have returned to using coal for energy.
41But in the long-term, the fighting may make countries around the world more interested in renewable energy.
42The International Energy Agency said there will be a sharp increase in renewable power in the next five years.
43People around the world now know that they have little control over the future.
44For example, 8 million people left their homes in Ukraine.
45They were not expecting their lives to change 13 months ago.
46Outside of Ukraine and Russia, the war has made people following the conflict feel concerned for their safety.
47There has been regular fighting close to the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, raising concerns of a possible accident.
48And Putin has talked about the possibility of using nuclear weapons in war.
49Patricia Lewis is director of the international security program at Chatham House, a political research center in London.
50She said Putin's nuclear threats created "more anger than fear" for some people.
51However, this week the Russian leader said he was suspending his country's participation in a major nuclear arms control agreement with the U.S.
52I'm Dan Friedell.
1Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. One year into its war with Ukraine, thousands of soldiers on both sides are dead. Many civilians have been killed and thousands of others have left their homes looking for safety and a better life. 2Here are five ways the Associated Press says the war in Ukraine has changed the world. 3The return of a European war 4The war in Europe made nations reconsider their armed forces after many years of limiting military spending. 5For example, military leaders now believe they need more guns, tanks and ammunition. Before the Russian invasion, most experts thought modern warfare would require high-technology tools, such as drones or unmanned aircraft. 6While drones and satellites are an important part of the fighting, it turns out that war requires the same tools as in the past. 7Before the war, then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "the old concepts of fighting big tank battles...are over." 8Now Germany has sent tanks and equipment to Ukraine and Britain is considering such a move. Both the U.S. and France are increasing weapons production and military spending. 9Patrick Bury is a security expert who teaches at the University of Bath, in England. 10"It is, for the moment at least, being shown that in Ukraine, conventional warfare...is back," Bury said. 11Tested and strengthened alliances 12Before the war started, Russian President Vladimir Putin thought the invasion would hurt NATO. However, the military alliance seems stronger than before. In addition, Sweden and Finland asked to join the group. 13The European Union has set aside political tensions and sent equipment and aid to Ukraine. It has also placed financial restrictions on Russia as punishment. 14The two groups - NATO and the European Union - have seemed united for one year. But the question is whether all the countries involved can cooperate for many years to come. 15Jens Stoltenberg is NATO's secretary general. "Russia is planning for a long war," he said. But NATO, he added, was also ready for "the long haul." 16A new Iron Curtain 17The division between Western Europe and the old Soviet Union was once known as the "Iron Curtain." After the fall of the Berlin Wall and changes that brought democracy to Eastern Europe, people said the curtain had come down. 18Now, many of the western influences and businesses that grew in Russia over the past 30 years have moved out. For example, the companies Ikea and McDonald's are no longer in Russia. 19But Russia is not completely isolated. Russian President Vladimir Putin has strengthened his country's connections with China, Iran and North Korea. Russia has been using Iranian drones. Russia is also influencing groups in the Middle East and Africa. Some countries, such as India, are waiting to choose sides. 20Tracey German is an expert in conflict and security at Kings College in London. German said the war has widened the distance between nations supporting Ukraine and those on the side of Russia and China. 21A troubled and changed world economy 22Food markets in Africa are without grain and cooking oil, and homes in Europe are cold because of the war. 23Before the war, much of the grain and vegetable oil sent to the Middle East and Africa came from Ukraine and Russia. Heating gas and oil for much of Europe came from Russia. Supplies of both food and fuel have decreased and prices have sharply increased. Now, countries are thinking about ways to provide their own food and energy. 24Ships carrying grain are once again leaving from Ukrainian ports and prices have started to come down. However, security expert German said, the fighting has shown "the fragility" of an interconnected world. 25For the short-term, many European countries have returned to using coal for energy. But in the long-term, the fighting may make countries around the world more interested in renewable energy. The International Energy Agency said there will be a sharp increase in renewable power in the next five years. 26A new time of uncertainty 27People around the world now know that they have little control over the future. For example, 8 million people left their homes in Ukraine. They were not expecting their lives to change 13 months ago. 28Outside of Ukraine and Russia, the war has made people following the conflict feel concerned for their safety. There has been regular fighting close to the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, raising concerns of a possible accident. And Putin has talked about the possibility of using nuclear weapons in war. 29Patricia Lewis is director of the international security program at Chatham House, a political research center in London. She said Putin's nuclear threats created "more anger than fear" for some people. However, this week the Russian leader said he was suspending his country's participation in a major nuclear arms control agreement with the U.S. 30I'm Dan Friedell. 31Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 32_______________________________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34concept -n. an idea of what something is or how it works 35the long haul -idiom something that lasts for an undefined, long period of time and that suggests difficulty 36isolated -adj. alone or separated 37fragile -adj. something that is easy to break 38participation -n. to be involved with others in doing something 39______________________________________________________________________ 40We want to hear from you. How has the war in Ukraine changed your life? 41We have a new comment system. 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