Russia
Russia has been the main driven force in the Ukraine Crisis as her direct involvement further alienated the Western powers, notably the USA, amidst the lingering hostility and suspicion in the post-Cold War era. It is of utmost importance to explain the historical root between Ukraine and Russia when analyzing the role of Russia in this war controversy. Throughout the Cold War, the USSR, today’s Russia, deliberately constructed a buffer zone in the Eastern Europe, literally the “Iron Curtain” as advocated by Winston Churchill, in the intensive ideological, technological and economic race with another superpower the USA. Ukraine, adjacent to the Russia, was one of the satellite states heavily influenced and controlled by the Soviet government. Like many other post-Soviet independent states in the Eastern Europe since 1991, Ukraine has been facing immense socio-political challenges including rise of extreme rightists, ethnic separatism and regional diversity, which are easily found in transitional states. Compounded by economic setback due to the 2008 global financial crisis in which Ukraine’s GDP and industrial production dropped by 15% and 30% respectively, a revolution and even a civil war seemed imminent in Ukraine, adding complexities to the chaotic and deeply divided political situation. The Russian propaganda has long portrayed Ukraine as vulnerable and would have swiftly collapsed at any point or experienced a civil war, yet Kremlin has repeatedly expressed her recognition of the legitimacy of post-Soviet Ukrainian-Russian border and done little, if not none, antagonistic to the international community, until early 2014.
With the outbreak of the revolution and mass protests in Kiev in late 2013, the attitude of Russia flipped fundamentally in the wake of the mounting popularity and victory of the Euromaiden movement. The annexation of Crimea and secretive incitement of military uprisings in the Donbss region abruptly interrupted the long-term stability in Ukraine and its peaceful political transformation since 1991. According to the orthodox school, the motives behind are driven by the autocratic political elites in Moscow, which refer to President Putin. Similar to the rationale of the USSR once held during the Cold War last century, the Russian leadership does not wish to see Europeanization in Ukraine, which will threaten their investment and influences in the country and further enhance the West’s seemingly capability in re-establishing another successful Eastern European country in post-Soviet era. In particular, the eventual ratification of the Association Agreement by Ukraine and the EU in June 2014 further reinforced Russia’s stout stance in the Ukraine Crisis despite facing heavy sanctions by the West. Complete withdrawal from Ukraine as called by the West does not seem possible in the short-run and instead Kremlin would continue to provide support, in terms of manpower, military and technology, for the pro-Russian groups in Ukraine as Putin rather want a weakened Ukrainian state than a Europeanized state. Kremlin's ultimate goal is to keep Ukraine within their sphere of influences and create a buffer zone against the West, typically the same mindset of the USSR during the Cold War era. This remains the crux of the controversy and the solution to the crisis therefore depends on how Russia and the West can make a consensus on the political positioning of Ukraine in the aspects of democratization and balance of forces.
With the outbreak of the revolution and mass protests in Kiev in late 2013, the attitude of Russia flipped fundamentally in the wake of the mounting popularity and victory of the Euromaiden movement. The annexation of Crimea and secretive incitement of military uprisings in the Donbss region abruptly interrupted the long-term stability in Ukraine and its peaceful political transformation since 1991. According to the orthodox school, the motives behind are driven by the autocratic political elites in Moscow, which refer to President Putin. Similar to the rationale of the USSR once held during the Cold War last century, the Russian leadership does not wish to see Europeanization in Ukraine, which will threaten their investment and influences in the country and further enhance the West’s seemingly capability in re-establishing another successful Eastern European country in post-Soviet era. In particular, the eventual ratification of the Association Agreement by Ukraine and the EU in June 2014 further reinforced Russia’s stout stance in the Ukraine Crisis despite facing heavy sanctions by the West. Complete withdrawal from Ukraine as called by the West does not seem possible in the short-run and instead Kremlin would continue to provide support, in terms of manpower, military and technology, for the pro-Russian groups in Ukraine as Putin rather want a weakened Ukrainian state than a Europeanized state. Kremlin's ultimate goal is to keep Ukraine within their sphere of influences and create a buffer zone against the West, typically the same mindset of the USSR during the Cold War era. This remains the crux of the controversy and the solution to the crisis therefore depends on how Russia and the West can make a consensus on the political positioning of Ukraine in the aspects of democratization and balance of forces.
In people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia. This firm conviction is based on truth and justice and was passed from generation to generation, over time, under any circumstances, despite all the dramatic changes our country went through during the entire 20th century. |
Separatists
Many pro-Russian groups and militias have emerged after the outbreak of the Ukraine Crisis in November 2013 due to the deepening polarization and most importantly motivations from Moscow. They share the same goal to distant from Ukraine yet their attitudes and action plans, in some ways, are different - some want to draw closer ties with Russia while some even want to be integrated into part of Russia. The separatists are the key actor in this crisis that are directly involved in on-ground fightings with the pro-western Ukrainian government. The recruits are from diverse backgrounds including veterans and even those with no prior military experiences. It is worthy to note that most of the separatists are Russian-speaking people with around two thirds of the rebels are not Ukrainian citizens. Many of them are ethnic Russians inhabited in Ukraine.
In the wake of the Euromaiden Revolution in Kiev, separatists, including pro-Russian and anti-government groups, provoked large-scale demonstrations across eastern and southern Ukraine in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk (the Donbass), and quickly escalated into armed conflict with the Ukrainian government. In May 2014, internationally unrecognized referendums for independence took place in Donetsk and Luhansk, which led to the declaration of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Clear evidences of Russian intervention by sending Russian troops without insignias into battling regions have been revealed for violating international laws, thus further intensifying hostility between Russia and the West. Moreover, the plane crash of MH17 in July 2014 remains the largest controversy since the outburst of the Ukraine Crisis. According to investigation report released by DSB, the plane was hit by a Russian-made missile over an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, causing a total of 283 passengers on board killed at instance. The incident immediately caused public outrage and attention of the Ukraine Crisis and pro-Russian separatists and Russian officials were heavily condemned internationally, despite both entities rejected the accusations.
In the wake of the Euromaiden Revolution in Kiev, separatists, including pro-Russian and anti-government groups, provoked large-scale demonstrations across eastern and southern Ukraine in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk (the Donbass), and quickly escalated into armed conflict with the Ukrainian government. In May 2014, internationally unrecognized referendums for independence took place in Donetsk and Luhansk, which led to the declaration of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Clear evidences of Russian intervention by sending Russian troops without insignias into battling regions have been revealed for violating international laws, thus further intensifying hostility between Russia and the West. Moreover, the plane crash of MH17 in July 2014 remains the largest controversy since the outburst of the Ukraine Crisis. According to investigation report released by DSB, the plane was hit by a Russian-made missile over an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, causing a total of 283 passengers on board killed at instance. The incident immediately caused public outrage and attention of the Ukraine Crisis and pro-Russian separatists and Russian officials were heavily condemned internationally, despite both entities rejected the accusations.