Russia-Ukraine Conflict GS Paper - 2 Bilateral Groupings & A | Deepak UPSC Notes

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

GS Paper - 2

Bilateral Groupings & Agreements

Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests

Background:

Ukraine and Russia share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic and familial links

As part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the second-most powerful Soviet republic after Russia, and was crucial strategically, economically and culturally.

Cause of Conflict:

Balance of Power: Ever since Ukraine split from the Soviet Union, both Russia and the West have vied for greater influence in the country in order to keep the balance of power in the region in their favour.

Buffer Zone for Western Countries: For the US and the European Union, Ukraine is a crucial buffer between Russia and the West. 

As tensions with Russia rise, the US and the EU are increasingly determined to keep Ukraine away from Russian control

Russian Interest in Black Sea: The unique geography of the Black Sea region confers several geopolitical advantages to Russia.

Firstly, it is an important crossroads and strategic intersection for the entire region.

Access to the Black Sea is vital for all littoral and neighboring states, and greatly enhances the projection of power into several adjacent regions.

Secondly, the region is an important transit corridor for goods and energy.

Separatist Movement: The Donbass region (the Donetsk and Luhansk regions) of eastern Ukraine has been facing a pro-Russian separatist movement since 2014.

According to the Ukrainian government, the movement is actively supported by the Russian government and Russian paramilitaries make up between 15% to 80% of the separatists fighting against the Ukraine government.

Invasion of Crimea:

Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in what was the first time a European country annexed territory from another country since World War-2.

The annexation of Crimea from Ukraine followed a Russian military intervention in Crimea that took place in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and was part of wider unrest across southern and eastern Ukraine.

The invasion and subsequent annexation of Crimea have given Russia a maritime upperhand in the region.

Ukrain’s NATO Membership: Ukraine has urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)to speed up his country’s membership in the alliance.

Russia has declared such a move a “red line”, and worried about the consequences of the US-led military alliances expanding right up to its doorstep.

The Black Sea is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. All these countries are NATO countries

Current Situation:

Russia is seeking assurances from the US that Ukraine will not be inducted into NATO.However, the US is not prepared to give any such assurance. 

This has left the countries in a stand-off, with tens of thousands of Russian troops ready to invade Ukraine.

Russia is keeping the tensions high at the Ukraine border in order to get sanctions relief and other concessions from the West.

India’s Stand: 

India did not join the Western powers’ condemnation of Russia’s intervention in Crimea and kept a low profile on the issue