Case Study # 0517-02 PKSOI TRENDS GLOBAL CASE STUDY SERIES
“ Russia continues to arm , train , and fight alongside separatist forces , and the security zone remains awash in heavy weapons , tanks , armored personnel carriers , and anti-aircraft guns . These weapons appear in part of the conflict zone one day , vanish the next , and then reappear somewhere else , undermining confidence between the sides and efforts toward a sustainable ceasefire and Minsk implementation .” 20
Russia on the other hand provided a vastly different rationale . The land known as Russia today began in Kyiv ( Note : the Ukrainian spelling for its capital is Kyiv ; the Russian spelling is Kiev ) in the 9th Century , and the two states have been mostly intertwined ever since ( although not always by Ukrainian choice ). Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire and later of the Soviet Union , and many Russians view Ukraine as part of their identity until this day . In fact , the derivation of the word “ Ukraine ” in Russian means “ on the edge ” or “ frontier ” ( of Russia ), showing that Ukraine ’ s identity is shared with Russia ’ s . Repeated invasions from the West over centuries inculcated a strong appreciation in Russia proper for its Ukrainian “ frontier ” as a buffer zone . In addition , Ukraine and Russia share not only history but also strong economic , religious and linguistic ties . The region ’ s Orthodox Christianity is considered to have originated in Ukraine . Most Ukrainians speak both Russian and Ukrainian and family ties expand past political borders .
A 2013 study claimed the Russian-Ukrainian border to be the second-largest migration corridor of the world . 21 Many Ukrainians work in Russia and in addition , large investments by Russian businesses in Ukraine intensify the intertwined relationship . Likewise , Crimea was a part of Russia proper from 1783 to 1954 when Ukrainian-born then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev ceded the territory to Ukraine . The Russian view on the significance of Crimea in particular is illustrated by President Putin ’ s address to State Duma deputies , Federation Council members , heads of Russian regions and civil society representatives in the Kremlin on 18 March 2014 :
“… Everything in Crimea speaks of our shared history and pride . This is the location of ancient Khersones , where Prince Vladimir was baptised . His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture , civilisation and human values that unite the peoples of Russia , Ukraine and Belarus . The graves of Russian soldiers whose bravery brought Crimea into the Russian empire are also in Crimea . This is also Sevastopol – a legendary city with an outstanding history , a fortress that serves as the birthplace of Russia ’ s Black Sea Fleet . Crimea is Balaklava and Kerch , Malakhov Kurgan and Sapun Ridge . Each one of these places is dear to our hearts , symbolising Russian military glory and outstanding valour … 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 .” 22
As well as accusing the Ukrainian Government for the ongoing fighting in the Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts , Russian Ambassador to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich reiterated the Russian stance on the issue of Crimea on 17 March 2016 :
“ The proclamation of independence by the Republic of Crimea and its entry into the Russian Federation are legal forms of implementing the right of the people of Crimea to self-determination in a situation where a coup d ’ état involving the use of force took place in Ukraine with outside support ….
We are very concerned about the threat of escalated hostilities in Donbass . Consistent actions by the Ukrainian military to seize a “ no-man ’ s land ” along the demarcation line dangerously reduce the distance between the positions of the warring parties and provoke more intense clashes . Moreover , this runs counter to the Minsk Measures .” 23
Meanwhile , Ukraine has been struggling for years to define a clear course of action for the future . The western part of the Ukrainian population is largely in favor of its country strengthening ties with the EU , while the more eastern regions