GS-2: Effects of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.

Key phrases - Minsk agreement, Sea of Azov, Ukraine,

Why in news-

Ukraine says Russia has deployed 90k troops at border

Analysis:

What is the conflict?

• 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.
• As per US intelligence the tension on the Russia-Ukraine border represents a major security crisis for the region, with the potential to snowball into a broader conflict.
• Ukraine says that Russia has amassed around 90,000 troops at the border.
• Increased tensions between Ukraine and Russia can be viewed as a continuation of the unresolved conflict of 2014.

Reasons behind the conflict

• 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.
• Euromaidan Movement: Euromaidan (European Square) was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began in 2013 due to government getting closer with Russia than EU.
• Separatist Movement: The Donbass region (the Donetsk and Luhansk regions) of eastern Ukraine has been facing a pro-Russian separatist movement since 2014. Ukraine blames Russia for this.
• Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in what was the first time a European country annexed territory from another country since World War-2.
• Ukraine’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”.
• 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.

How is the world divided on this?

• NATO is supporting Ukraine on the issue.
• U.S. - The U.S., under Biden administration, has taken a more resolute stance towards this conflict. Unlike his predecessors, U.S. President Joe Biden seems to be less apprehensive about provoking Russia. He is ready to support militarily for the ‘independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine’, if need arises.
• Turkey - Notably, Turkey also seems to stand by Ukraine amidst the current tensions with Russia.
• India did not join the Western powers’ condemnation of Russia’s intervention in Crimea and kept a low profile on the issue.
• In November 2020, India voted against a Ukraine-sponsored resolution in the United Nations (UN) that condemned alleged human rights violations in Crimea thereby backing old ally Russia on the issue.

Way ahead

• Both countries do need support from the global community, but not in a military form.
• All the stakeholders in the ongoing crisis should focus on establishing a constructive dialogue among themselves.
• There is thus a need for a platform (similarly to the Minsk Agreements).
• This should facilitate negotiation, mutual consensus and possible compromises, as well as engagement with mediators.

Source: Indian Express

Mains question:

Q. Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since veered between seeking closer integration with Western Europe and being drawn into the orbit of Russia. Critically comment on the geo-political implications of this trend. (10 Marks, 150 Words).