CSS Current Affairs | Annexation of Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
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Outline
1-Introduction
2-A short view of the history of the Crimean Peninsula
3-How the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 has escalated the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
- ✓It acted as a catalyst for increasing separatist movements in the eastern Ukrainian zone (Donetsk and Luhansk)
- Evidence: According to the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine, there were numerous instances of armed confrontations and the establishment of roadblocks by separatist forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, mainly using Russian weapons and backing of Moscow.
- ✓It dealt a blow to Kyiv’s sovereignty and resulted in the loss of the major port of Sevastopol. Conversely, it has provided economic benefits to Russia
- Evidence: According to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262, adopted on March 27, 2014, the international community overwhelmingly condemned the referendum held in Crimea, declared the annexation illegal under international law and endorsed Crimea as a part of sovereign Ukraine.
- ✓It has brought more romance between Ukraine and the Western block, especially with NATO, which has directly threatened Russia
- Evidence: At the Warsaw Summit 2016, NATO endorsed a Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine to develop robust, sustainable, and effective defence and security institutions. This package includes measures for strategic communications, defence education, and security sector reform
- ✓Unlawful annexation has made Russia inundate with sanctions, which further pushes Moscow towards aggression
- Evidence: According to Bloomberg’s report, Sanctions on Moscow have knocked 6% off Russia’s Economy since 2014, along with a loss of $100 billion.
- ✓Crimean annexation has started an arms race between Russia and Ukraine and burgeoning the cause of a full-fledged war between them.
- Evidence: As Stockholm International Peace Research Institute stated, Ukraine’s defence spending rose from about 1.6% of GDP in 2013 to over 4% in 2022, and Moscow’s Defense spending remained above 4% of GDP from 2014 onwards.
- ✓It made this region a battleground for competing ideologies and brought nothing but destruction for both Kyiv and Moscow, like turmoil in the Middle East
- Evidence: Micheal Koffman, a renowned military strategist and particularly famous for their work on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has stated that this region is now acting as a chess board on which the Western block is struggling with the Eastern one, particularly with Russia and China.
4-Critical analysis
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 has significantly changed the landscape of Eastern Europe and drastically initiated conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This aggression not only burnt true the spirit of International Law but also ignited profound and lasting consequences for both nations. This illegal annexation, under the guise of the controversial referendum, has caused a significant loss on both sides. For Ukraine, this aggression is a direct attack on its territorial sovereignty, and it has also experienced nationalist sentiments and separatist movements in the Eastern zone influenced by Moscow. Next, Crimea has a strategic depth for Ukraine, and its loss has made Kyiv a significant blow to its economy and its rights to the natural resources of this Peninsula. Furthermore, it has pushed Kyiv towards more comprehensive security by entering an arm-importing pool of countries. As a state, Ukraine has far less of an army and economy than Russia and is ready to dance to the tone of the global hegemon to gain financial and diplomatic support. On the other hand, this occupation has also made Moscow pay a heavy price. First, this annexation has caught Russia’s economy with thousands of sanctions, which is enough to stagnate the economic growth of Stalin state (Russia). Second, it has paved the way for NATO, the union of anti-socialist countries at the door of Moscow. Grabbing this opportunity, NATO and European countries bore more romance with Kyiv, which directly challenged Putin’s aggressive policy. Last but not least, it also made Moscow stand alone in the international community that the USA dominates. On a short note, the ongoing tensions and sporadic violence underscore the profound impact of Russia’s actions on the stability and future of Ukraine, as well as the broader implications for international law and the principles of state sovereignty.
A short view of the history of the Crimean Peninsula
The Crimean Peninsula, located on the north coast of the Black Sea, has a diverse and complex history and an excellent strategic position in this region. It has remained part of various empires and states. In ancient times, it was governed by the Roman Empire and later by the Byzantine Empire. Then, it came under the control of the Ottoman Empire, from where it became part of the Soviet Union. For the past 24 years, it was an integral part of Ukraine until Russia annexed it in 2014. In short, its strategic location and vast resources have made it the piece of cake that every neighbouring country wants to eat.
How the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 has escalated the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
- It acted as a catalyst for increasing separatist movements in the eastern Ukrainian zone (Donetsk and Luhansk)
Crimean annexation was made under the guise of the controversial referendum, making an excuse to protect the human rights of the Russian-speaking population in this region. This act of aggression has boosted the confidence of separatists living in the eastern zone of Ukraine and made them seek help from Moscow. For instance, the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization of Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine reported numerous instances of armed confrontations and the establishment of roadblocks by separatist forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, mainly using Russian weapons and backing of Moscow since 2014. This represents the true implication of Russian aggression towards Ukraine and accelerates the fragmentation of the true spirit of sovereignty. On a short note, Kyiv is considered a buffer zone between two ideological worlds, is in the dissolution process, and is the most affected in the whole scenario.
- It dealt a blow to Kyiv’s sovereignty and resulted in the loss of the major port of Sevastopol. Conversely, it has provided economic benefits to Russia
At the international level, a state, informally known as a country, is an important actor, with sovereignty being a critical pillar that allows it to stand in the international arena. Crimean annexation is a direct attack on Kyiv’s sovereignty and a violation of international law at large. In fact, according to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262, adopted on March 27, 2014, the international community overwhelmingly condemned the referendum held in Crimea, declared the annexation illegal under international law and endorsed Crimea as a part of sovereign Ukraine. In addition, it caused a substantial economic loss to Kyiv by losing a significant port known as Sevastopol and the natural resources of the Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, Breadbasket of Europe (Ukraine) has started suffering from increased logistic costs due to the re-routing of maritime trade. For instance, according to the Atlantic Council, Ukraine lost approximately 80% of its oil and gas deposits in the Black Sea, valued at billions of dollars. It also led to the loss of about 20% of Ukraine’s agricultural production, and the loss of ports like Sevastopol and Kerch forced Ukraine to reroute its maritime trade, increasing logistical costs. This volatile situation has badly affected Kyiv; conversely, it bore great benefits for Moscow in an economic and political sense.
- It has brought more romance between Ukraine and the Western block, especially with NATO; contradictory, it has threatened Russia
Moving forward, Crimean annexation has made Kyiv look towards Europe and the USA to prevent further loss of its territory in case of further aggression by Moscow. Ukraine, which lags in defence capabilities compared to Russia, has begun to make arms deals. For instance, at the Warsaw Summit in 2016, NATO endorsed a Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine to develop robust, sustainable, and effective defence and security institutions. This package includes measures for strategic communications, defence education, and security sector reforms. This was an initial step to strengthen Kyiv’s defence, and as a result, it also made NATO a strong presence on the soil of Kyiv. This wave of romance between Ukraine and NATO has created a severe threat to Russia, which made aggression to stop Kyiv’s tilt towards the Western side.
- Unlawful annexation has made Russia inundate with sanctions, which further pushes Moscow towards aggression
Furthermore, with the dominance of the USA and European block, the world reacted by making Moscow stand under a rain of sanctions. It gave a massive blow to Russia’s economy and compelled Moscow to seek other ways to stabilize its economic conditions. In fact, according to Bloomberg’s report, sanctions on Moscow have knocked up 6% of Russia’s economy since 2014, along with a loss of 100 billion dollars. As a result, this has made Moscow go into a more aggressive phase and the Eastern European zone a region of soaring conflict.
- Crimean annexation has started an arms race between Russia and Ukraine and burgeoning the cause of an entire fledge war between them
Moving further, this aggression has not only halted the economic prosperity of both countries but also has made both countries start a never-ending arms race. Evidently, this aggression has led Moscow and Kyiv towards a total war. For instance, as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute stated, Ukraine’s defence spending rose from about 1.6% of GDP in 2013 to over 4% in 2022, and the Defense spending of Moscow remained above 4% of GDP from 2014 onwards. This indicates that the increasing tension between Moscow and Kyiv would lead to a full-fledged war.
- It made this region a battleground for competing ideologies and brought nothing but destruction for both Kyiv and Moscow, like turmoil in the Middle East:
Last but not least, the Crimean annexation directly or indirectly influenced every sphere of both countries. More advanced, this aggression has provided a new battleground to two competing ideologies: capitalism and communism. For instance, Micheal Koffman, a renowned military strategist and particularly famous for their work on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has stated that this region is now acting as a chess board on which the Western block is struggling with the Eastern one, particularly with Russia and China. The international conflict between two powers always creates a battleground; in this case, Eastern Europe brings destruction. So, it will be a zero-sum game.
Critical analysis
In a robust diagnosis, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 has become a bone of contention between Moscow and Kyiv, which gave birth to a series of conflicts between them. Moreover, it is a direct violation of the sovereignty of Kyiv, and this act fell into aggression, according to the UN Charter. But on the other side, Moscow always imagines Ukraine as a buffer zone between her and the Capitalist Union, Known as NATO. The burgeoning romance between Kyiv and NATO has compelled Moscow to go to this end. In fact, the realist school of thought believes that there is an anarchical structure at the international level and that the security dilemmas have made the states act like this. Another school of thought is that liberals believe that the weakness of institutions and diplomacy has pushed Moscow to this aggression. So, it is evident that this annexation has made the whole world, and both countries stand in a state of chaos. This is an increasingly fading picture of world peace, especially in this Eastern European zone.
Conclusion
To conclude, the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia significantly escalated the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, catalyzing ongoing hostilities. This bold move violated Ukraine’s territorial integrity and triggered a series of geopolitical shifts that deepened regional divisions. Russia’s actions reinforced separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, leading to a protracted conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. Moreover, the annexation strained Russia’s relations with the West, prompting sanctions and fueling a renewed era of geopolitical tensions reminiscent of the Cold War. Ukraine’s response, marked by its increasing alignment with NATO and the EU, further intensified the standoff. Thus, the annexation of Crimea set off a chain of events that reshaped the regional and global order, leaving behind a lasting legacy of instability and confrontation that continues to this day.
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