Name: Kayla Brown

Date: 4/29/15
Article Title: How the Ukrainian Crisis is like three dimensional chess
Citation of the Article: "How the Ukrainian Crisis Is like Three-dimensional Chess." Washington
Post. The Washington Post. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.
Link to Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/03/15/theukrainian-crisis-and-the-western-response-is-complicated-by-the-fact-that-three-different-gamesare-being-played-simultaneously/
Summary (No less than 10 sentences for full credit)
In this article explains how the Ukrainian Crisis can be compared to three dimensional
chess. In fact there are at least three distinct, but overlapping games being played in and
around Ukraine. The first game they talk about in the article is Victory or Minsk. They related it
to this game by saying there is a choice between continuing the war until Kiev gets full control
over certain regions and negotiating. Russia is playing this game too. Moscow increases support
for separatists each time that Kievs victory seems close. There are other players in the game like
United States, Britain and the Baltic states to roll back Russian involvement in the Ukrainian
Crisis. A factor that complicates that game is Moscows apparent inability to difference
between motivations of different Western countries. This enhances the determination to
continue with providing military support. The second game talked about in the article is called
The Meaning of Minsk. This game is about the future of the two different regions and has been
overshadowed by fighting. Both games have many complications but one major complication is
that there in incomplete control of all capitals over relevant actors. For example, Moscow does
not have control over separatists. Kievdoes does not have full control over hardline nationalists
and volunteer battalions. Washington and European capitals also do not have full control over
their own domestic politics. In both of these games, Ukraine is at a disadvantage because
Ukraine is continuing with the ATO.

Reaction (Must include evidence of point of view and/or bias and/or understanding of article; no
less than 6 sentences for full credit)
My reaction to this article about the Ukrainian Crisis being compared to three
dimensional chess is that I agree with the article. I think the writer did a great job comparing and
explaining why the Ukrainian Crisis like different games. I think I have a better understanding of
the Ukrainian Crisis. I also agree that it seems like there are many games being played around
Ukraine and that Russia is playing as well. The Meaning of the Minsk game I think I agree
with the most. I agree with this because I think that the situation has been made worse by
fighting. In the article is says that the future of the regions has been overshadowed by fighting.
Their future is most important but its hard to focus on their futures when they are constantly
fighting.