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Why is Russia drawing ‘red lines’ over Ukraine?

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January 27, 2022

Why in news?

Russia wants to revert back Ukraine from Western influence and reclaim it in its sphere of influence.

Click here for Part 1

Why is Russia so concerned about Ukraine?

  • Eastward expansion of NATO - Since the end of Cold War NATO has expanded eastwards by taking in 14 new countries.
  • This includes the states of the former Warsaw Pact and the three Baltic nations that were once in the Soviet Union.
  • Russia saw this as an encroachment towards its borders.
  • Betrayal of Western Promises - Russia view it as a betrayal of Western promises at the start of the 1990s – something the United States and its allies deny.
  • Ukraine tilt towards West - Ukraine is not a NATO member but has promised to join it since 2008.
  • Since toppling a pro-Russian president in 2014, it staged joint military exercises with NATO and has taken delivery of weapons including U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles and Turkish drones.
  • This could make Ukraine a launch pad for NATO missiles targeted at Russia. Russia needs to lay down “red lines” to prevent that.
  • Strive for global power –Russia wants to restore its influence throughout the post-Soviet space, defying the West and reassert Russia as a global power.
  • Resources - Ukraine is the second biggest country in Europe after Russia.
  • It has major ports on the Black Sea and shares borders with four NATO countries.
  • It is a major exporter of corn and wheat.
  • Geography - Europe depends on Russia for about one third of its natural gas and one of the main pipelines passes through Ukraine.
  • Controlling Ukrainian would enhance Russia’s pipeline security.
  • This will provide leverage for Putin in any dispute with the West.
  • Culture – Russia and Ukraine speak closely related languages.
  • Ukraine and Belarus, formed the Slav core of the Soviet Union.
  • Russians feel a connection with Ukraine, which they do not feel with other former Soviet republics in the Baltics, Caucasus and Central Asia.
  • They consider Russians and Ukrainians were one people who shared a single “historic and spiritual space”.
  • History - The two had been linked since the 9th century when Kyiv became the capital of the ancient state of Rus
  • From 1654, Russia and Ukraine were united by treaty under the rule of the Russian tsar.

How USA and Ukraine have responded?

  • Kyiv and Washington view Ukraine’s move as legitimate.
  • They view it as Ukraine’s defence after Russia seized the Crimea region in 2014.
  • They provided backing to separatists who are still fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.
  • Kyiv rejected Russia’s reference to history as a politically motivated and over-simplified version of history

How has Russia responded?

  • Russia rejects Ukrainian and U.S. suspicions that it is preparing an invasion of Ukraine
  • It says it is responding to threats and provocations.
  • It only wants security guarantees from the West including the rescinding of NATO’s membership promise to Ukraine.

What might be Russia’s plan?

  • It unlikely that Russia would attempt to seize and defend large swathes of Ukrainian territory because the military cost would be too high.
  • Keeping the world guessing about a possible invasion Russia has made its security demands to the top of the international agenda.
  • Using this it will look to complete its unfinished business in Ukraine by blocking its westward shift and reclaiming it as part of a Russian sphere of influence.

 

Reference

  1. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-ukraine-russia-border-conflict-putin-7743021/
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