The Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Why did Russia fear western expansion?

-Because NATO was rapidly growing -The US had dismantled other authoritarian regimes, like Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. and feared they'd do the same to Russia

Why was Russia successfully in annexing Crimea in March 2014?

-Because Yanucovich had fled, mass protests were going on, etc. -There was no structured government at the time to take care of it

Why did the US think Russia lost the Cold War?

-Because democratic values were stronger than authoritarian ones.

Why did Russia think they lost the Cold War?

-Because the Russian government was weak and fell

Wat was Article 5, the Collective Defense Clause, of NATO?

-Emphasized that if one NATO ally is under attack, all the other allies must do as much as they can to help. -"An attack on one is an attack on all" -Has grown rapidly to 30 members (originally 12)

What resulted of Ukraine's change to no longer wanting to join the EU?

-Many people protested, especially in Kyiv -Called for Yanucovich to step down (he eventually fled and found solace in Russia) -The Government passed measures restricting protest; they responded violently to public protest

How did the public respond to the reversal of the NATO efforts and the new treaty with Russia?

-Much of the public disliked this turn of events -Many disliked Ukraine being so controlled by Russia, supported joining the EU

NATO

-North Atlantic Treaty Organization -Alliance made after WWII -A goal of containing communist influence

How can Russia's invasion of Ukraine be explained by realist?

-Putin's invasion represents a violent action out of insecurity, self interest and self preservation. -Feared a change in balance of power -Feared losing Ukraine as a buffer -Feared losing its sphere of influence -Feared losing access to its only warm port -Feared losing one of few remaining Russian ally leaders (Yanucovich)

What was Russia's view of the US during this time?

-Russia viewed the US as a power hungry nation that tried to spread its democratic values everywhere -Believed liberal approaches to governance were not efficient

What was the US's view of Russia during this time?

-The US believed that Russia was a hostile nation taking drastic measures out of self interest -Believed that its liberal, democratic values were the most desireable

The Tarkin Effect

-The stronger a leader tries to tighten their grasp of people, the more likely they are to push back and rebel -Ex. The Arab Spring

Who were the unidentified soldiers who entered Ukraine and why were they important?

-The unidentified soldiers were Russians in disguise -They were dispatched to Crimea and the Donbas region, knowing these regions were more sympathetic to Russian influence -The soldiers aimed to encourage separatist sentiment and create conflict

What was the divide within Ukraine like?

-There has been a historical divide between west and east Ukraine -Western Ukrainians more like to support joining the EU, see themselves as distinct from Russians -Eastern Ukrainians more likely to dissent with joining the EU, separatists, more likely to consider themselves Ethnic Russians -This division only fueled controversy

Why was Russia so intent on having Crimea?

-They had a historically connection; Crimea had been under Russian control before, and it was a beloved region -Crime had the only available warm port (Sevastapol) to Russia to use for trade

What resulted of the unidentified soldiers in Ukraine?

-They mobilized already existing Russian sympathy in Ukrainian regions -Eventually, Separatists in Crimea and the Donbas claimed independence -Civil war breaks out

Why did Russia invade eastern ukraine?

-Ukraine was the last buffer between the EU and Russia; Russia feared losing that -Russia feared the growth of NATO, after it had explicitly said before it would not grow a ton

What events triggered the first Russian invasion of Ukraine?

-Ukraine's president, Victor Yanucovich, was making moves to join NATO in 2013 (an association agreement) -This was surprising because Ukraine and Russia had always seemed closely connected -Really, Yanucovich just wanted leverage with Russia