... peoples who have been linked to Russia for centuries. It is also obvious that the entire geographic area of the former USSR is a sphere of vital interest to us." http://www.nato.int/docu/review/1993/9301-1.htm Yet, excepting the special case of Crimea, there has never been any indication that Russia has been interested in annexing Ukraine, even eastern Ukraine or, for that matter, any of the former Soviet republics. Why should it? Moscow does regard a hostile Ukraine as unacceptable, but this should not be alarming. To put it in perspective,...
... opening of the Kerch Strait to the international shipping, and the subsequent internationalization of the Azov Sea’s waters, featured among the long list of issues which strained Russia-Ukraine relations after 1991.
Through the annexation of Crimea, Russia recovers the full sovereignty over the best coasts and the best port, Sevastopol, of the Black Sea basin. In absorbing the peninsula, Moscow retrieves nearly 1 000 km of additional coasts, including ports such as Feodossia and Kerch, which are ...
... Kucuk Kaynarca was a watershed moment in the history of the Sublime Porte, a “point of no return” that was followed by a gradual ousting by the Russian Empire of Ottoman influence in the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Black Sea. Even the Crimean War of 1853–1856, which Russia lost due to the participation of Britain and France on the Ottoman’s side, could not halt the Empire’s downfall: in the mid-1860s, St. Petersburg completed its expansion into the Caucasus, and in 1877–1878, the final Russo-Turkish ...
... The maintenance of the new sea platforms is expected to be performed by Black Sea plants in order to not overload Saint Petersburg and Kaliningrad shipyards which have already to honor domestic and foreign orders. Yet, in March 2014, the annexation of Crimea has provided Russia with an unexpected answer to the challenge represented by the lack of maritime assets in the Black Sea.
Toward the emergence of two Russian shipbuilding and ship repair poles in the Black Sea
First, it must be recalled that, in spite of the ...
... expressed their will, but from the point of view of the essence of the popular will, of the risk that the same situation that is being observed in South-East Ukraine might arise in Crimea, and the military-strategic risks for Russia, the incorporation of Crimea into Russia that has taken place is beyond doubt and is underpinned by a decision of the Crimean people. Europe has already seen similar precedents. The situation in Kosovo, when the unilateral actions of the USA and its allies caused a continuation of the ...
... countries repeatedly violating the foundations of international law whenever they deemed it necessary.
Mikhail Metzel / ITAR TASS
Yevgeny Primakov:
We somewhat overdid our coverage of events
In addition to the linguistic and ethnic aspects connecting Russia and Crimea, President Putin also pointed to the importance of security issues. The composition of the new Ukrainian government suggests that one of its goals is to eventually join NATO. It is possible that missile defence systems could appear in the country ...
... flawed thinking, as anyone can tell you that has had personal experience trying to travel through Soviet-era roads in rural areas. So, which sounds more logical and powerful to you? Building a massive and modern super highway that directly connects Russia to Crimea or trying to forcefully occupy several regions of Eastern Ukraine so you could possibly build down the road new avenues to Crimea? Putin and Lavrov rightly see this as a question not befitting a five year old while almost every media conglomerate ...
... of these regions was a strategic prerequisite in preserving or diversifying supply and transit routes, a means to an end rather than an end in itself, remains purely a rhetorical exercise. Conversely, if we ask ourselves whether the annexation of the Crimean peninsula was Russia’s premeditated act or an impromptu action forced by circumstances of instability and uncertainty, would be to the same effect. The very basis for future dialogue would be acquiescing the fact that revisionism stems from the over-politicisation ...
... provide a large spectrum of capability to strike ground targets, interdict maritime traffic and impose a no-fly zone. Having gained access to ex-Ukrainian air bases and military facilities (193 assets, including naval bases, storages, airfields etc.) in Crimea, Russia’s air force now has significantly enhanced its presence covering almost the entire Black Sea coastline, Transnistria and southern Ukraine within its operational range[10]. In that regard, it has been reported that Russia plans to dispatch ...
... passengers to Crimea in 2014. The combined total number of passengers flying from Russia to Crimea would be 650 000 to 700 000 for 2014, three times more than in 2013[2]. Due to the increase in the number of daily flights between Russia and Simferopol, Russia-Crimea airline traffic jumped to 60 flights per day in June 2014. Growing air traffic between Russian airports and Crimea will be further eased since the International Civil Aviation Office designated Russia as the main provider for air navigation services ...