NATO allies are fearing a potential invasion by Russia as the nation is stepping up support for Kyiv. However, Moscow claims it is vital for security reasons and is blaming NATO. Here’s a simple explainer to the Russia Ukraine crisis.
What is the Russia Ukraine crisis?
Ukraine was a part of the Russian empire for centuries. However, the nation got its independence as the USSR broke up in 1991. It soon began shedding its Russian Imperialism and started forging closer ties with the west. Moreover, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych faced rejection for rejecting the EU and moving closer to Moscow. But, Rusia responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula. The nation was also throwing its weight behind the separatist rebellion which broke out in Eastern Ukraine.
Both, Ukraine and the West believe that Russia is guilty of sending its troops to the rebels. However, Moscow denied and stated that those who joined the separatist were volunteering. Moscow has been strong in criticizing the US and other NATO allies for providing weapons to Ukraine and conducting joint drills. Russia believes this is encouraging the Ukrainian hawks to regain the rebel-held areas of Luhansk and Donetsk by using force.
What is Russia trying to avoid?
Russia does not want Ukraine to join NATO. After all, it is one of the things on the list of security demands send to the US in December 2021. Additionally, Russia does not want any NATO drills near its borders and, wants NATO to withdraw from Eastern Europe. Moscow is currently waiting for the response but, several of its ultimatums are slammed as a non-starter by the West. Putin is seeking guarantees to ensure “that would exclude any further NATO moves eastward and the deployment of weapons systems that threaten us in close vicinity to Russian territory”.
Currently, Ukraine is not a member of NATO however, it wants to change that. But, before becoming a NATO member, they need to remove scourges. Additionally, analysts believe that expanding military footprint in this region can also risk relations with Moscow.
What will happen next?
The west is accusing Russia about its preparedness of invading its pro-west neighbor. After all, Russia has clustered 100,000 strong troops near the Ukrainian border. Dmitry Peskov, President Putin’s spokesperson believes that Biden’s “total unanimity” on dealing with Russia, is adding to the tense atmosphere. “The United States is escalating tensions. We are watching these US actions with great concern,” he stated. The possibility of a war breaking out is uncertain at the moment.
“I think what Russia and Vladimir Putin will be really after would be to defeat the Ukrainian armed forces in the field, inflict a crushing military defeat that humiliates the Ukrainians and by extension create concern that backing Ukraine has from its allies in the West, the US, and the UK, is insufficient,” stated Samir Puri. Puri is a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Moreover, if Russia takes over Ukraine, the US can block finances to go against Moscow as the US dollar has a monopoly over financial transactions.