Ukraine Test
What happened to NATO after the Cold War? What problem did this create for Russia? Ukraine/NATO history.
After the Cold War, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, NATO expanded dramatically, as the newly freed countries from the Soviet bloc wanted to join. This was a problem for Russia because these countries separated Western spheres of influence from Russia. Now, they were getting closer, more tension was appearing, and Putin was losing political influence.
Explain how Russia's influence began to slip starting in 2004 through the annexation of Crimea?
After the orange revolution, where mass protest led to the Russian backed candidate being defeated in 2004, Russia began losing influence in Ukraine. After a future Russian backed president was elected and rejected the proposal to join the EU, protest once again flared up, further weakening Putin's influence and causing him to annex Crimea. This led to mass protest and fighting in both Ukraine and in Russia, where the newer generations do not support Putin. Thus Putin wanted to move this fighting and protest out of Russia and into Ukraine by starting the invasion.
Are they working? Three and explain.
In some ways, yes, the sanctions are working. The sanctions are doing some damage to the Russian economy, with many predicting there may be a contraction in the economy coming soon. In addition to this, those powers who have placed the sanctions have also been able to get the important message across that this invasion is immoral, violating international norms, and trying to stop a democracy has repercussions. However, because of Russia's external ties with allies and the preparation they exhibit in relation to these sanctions, they have not done the most effective job at hindering further military action and bringing the economy down. Only time will tell what real effects the sanctions can have on Russia.
How has Ukraine held off Russia's invasion, so far? Choose two and explain.
In the early weeks of the invasion when Russia forces crossed into Ukrainian borders, the Ukrainian resistance slowed down the invaders drastically in many areas including Kyiv. Not only this, but the resistance allowed for the Ukrainian military forces to launch an intense counteroffensive attack which drove back Russia forces and allowed Ukraine to regain thousands of square miles of land in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
How has Moscow responded? Three and explain.
Moscow responded by changing bilateral trade in rubles, after an increase in interest rates to stabilize the economy after the international sanctions. In addition to this, Russia has also used Europe's dependence on Russian oil against Europe. Specifically, Russia shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was initially supplying 60% of Germany's oil, which has greatly increased European energy prices. Finally, Russia has also been utilizing its allies such as China to curb the effects of the sanctions by having them import large quantities of Russian oil and making more financial and military technology deals with China to maintain Russia's economy.
How does Putin use the war to protect his regime?
Putin is worried that a democracy in neighboring Ukraine will result in a desire among Russians to do the same. So he is deciding to show how weak the democracy next door is by launching the invasion of Ukraine. In addition to this, Putin wants to protect his regime from Nato and the EU's influence by keeping the neutral block of Ukraine between Russia and the West. Thus, he wants to control Ukraine and invade it to ensure it does not join either the EU or Nato.
What happened in the Donbas region?
Putin recognized the independence of the entirety of two parts of the Donbass region, namely the People's republic of Luhansk and of Donetsk, parts of which have been backed by pro-russian separatists for years. Next, he ordered Russian soldiers to enter into the separatist regions as "peacekeeper", starting the invasion of Ukraine and the threat of a very serious war between both Russia and Ukraine.
Crimea and Eastern Ukraine? Why did Russia invade?
Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist conflicts in Donbas as the first step of his invasion. The main reason for this invasion was for Russia to maintain a sphere of political influence over Ukraine, which it had begun to lose over the last years to NATO as it expands into previously Russian spheres of influence.
What are Russia's objectives in Ukraine? Three reasons and explain.
Russia has three main objectives in Ukraine. The First objective is to increase Russian status to the greatness it once was, which has been lost over the years. In order to achieve this and make Russia great again, Putin feels attacking and conquering Ukraine is a good method. The second objective Russia has in Ukraine is to gain access to the Black Sea. Russia moved forward with this when they annexed Crimea and this allows Russia to influence places where they initially had no reach like the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Middle East. Lastly, Russia's other objective in Ukraine is to depose the government, "denazify" and "demilitarize" the country through the use of military forces. This allows Russia to have a greater control on Ukraine as a whole and aligns itself with Putin's belief that Ukraine is part of Russia.
Why did Russia launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022? Three reasons and explain
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 due to three reasons. First, Russia resents and is threatened by Nato's post-cold war expansion in the former Soviet Union bloc, which it believes is a direct threat to Russian security. Second, Russia wants to control Ukraine and destroy the growing threat of Ukrainian democracy. Lastly, in addition to stopping the threat of Ukrainian democracy, Russia wants to protect its autocratic regime from the idea of democracy and discourage others in Eastern Europe, to maintain control and influence.
What are U.S. and EU policies in Ukraine? Four reasons and explain.
The US and EU have four major policies in Ukraine. The first is to ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including restoring parts which have been taken over, or attempted to be taken, by Russia. Second, the US and EU also do not recognize Russian claims to annexed lands from Ukraine such as Crimea, in addition to settling conflicts between Russia and Ukraine over the Donbas region in the Minsk Agreement. Thirdly, Western powers and the EU have also greatly aided Ukraine following the invasion of Russia. Similar to many other NATO allies, the US has donated 50 million dollars, troops, drones, weapons, and other aid to help Ukrainian forces. Lastly, these same powers have continued to punish Russia for it's invasion of Ukraine. These include international sanctions on finance, energy, defense, and Putin's oligarchs, Telecommunication restrictions, and the shutdown of company branches operating in Russia.
What sanctions has the U.S. imposed? Three and explain.
The US has placed many sanctions on Russia in three main areas. The first sanction area is in finance, which the US has laden with Russian banks with US-based asset freezes, barring some Russian banks from the Society of Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, which is a interbank messaging system, and prohibiting trading securities issued in Russia. The second sanction area is in energy, where the US has specifically focused on limiting Russia's ability to stop oil by banning the import of Russian crude oil and restricting Russian energy companies. However, the US has not yet moved to sanction Russia's nuclear energy. The last sanction area is dealing with the military. Specifically, the US has implemented restrictions that limit exports on military technology like aircraft equipment and semiconductors to stop Russian military expansions.
What are Russia's broad interests in Ukraine? Five reasons and explain.
There are 5 major Russian interests in Ukraine. First, Russia wants to reunite the familial ties it once had with Ukraine, as the countries go back many centuries, share a common history, and a common religion in Christianity through which Ukrainians and Russians gained their lineage. Second, Russia wants to protect the Russian people living in Ukraine, which they used as political reasoning for the annexation of Crimea. Third, Russia wants to maintain its superpower image, by regaining the land lost in Ukraine, showing Russia is still a major global power. Fourth, Russia wants to be the major trading partner of Ukraine, which it has recently lost over time. Lastly, Russia wants to maintain a standing as an energy superpower by utilizing Ukrainian pipelines to the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.
Why did Putin send soldiers into the Donbas region? (Real reasons) Two.
While Putin claims that these soldiers are here for "peacekeeping," they are there for other reasons. First, Putin is invading Ukraine and aiding Russian separatists in the Donbass region in their fight against Ukrainian opposition. This shows Russia is preparing for an all out war, evidenced by the intense military build up of Russian troops surrounding the entirety of Ukraine. Second, Russia is sending troops due to the long struggle with NATO, which it feels is a threat to Russian security. By ensuring Ukraine will not join through invasion, Russia is able to maintain its sphere of influence over Ukraine.
