Russia and the Crimea

1. Russia and the Crimea Group 9: Alex tracosas, Henry Spalding &Neeki Zohadi

2. Russia and the Crimea Overview: How it started • Ukraine backed out of a trade deal with the EU in favor of a deal that would provide them with more money, bringing them closer to Russia. Ukraine’s decision is what sparked the current conflict • Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovichwas ousted by the Ukrainian parliament due to the escalation of violence during protests • The international community, as well as the US, has made it clear that the fighting and protests must stop or severe consequences would ensue • Russia claimed the removal of Yanukovich was illegal, giving them the right to protect Russians living in Ukraine, as well as their desire to keep Ukraine from becoming more European

3. Overview Continued • The search for Yanukovich spotlighted an area in Ukraine known as Crimea (technically a part of Ukraine but is historically Russian • Crimea is now become the focal point of the ongoing crisis. • The Russian parliament approved Putin’s broad authority to use military force. Thousands of “Russian” troops entered Crimea, but Putin claimed that the troops were not Russian although he was granted the right to send in troops. • President Obama has expressed his concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a breach of international law

4. What’s been done BY the U.S.? • The Obama Administration’s strategy has been to present a united Western front with NATO and to avoid casting the dispute as one between Washington and Moscow. • Obama cancelled plans for officials to visit Russia to discuss a new trade agreement, cancelled US participation in planning for a meeting of the G-8, as well as suspending a visit by Russian officials to Washington to discuss energy issues • Secretary of State John Kerry went to Kiev as a gesture of support for the Ukrainian government with the intention of increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia

5. Most Recent events • March 17: Crimean Parliament declared independence from Ukraine. Ukraine then asked to join the Russian Federation • March 20: In Brussels, EU leaders condemned Russia's annexation of Crimea and extend the list of individuals targeted for sanctions. The US also extended sanctions • March 27: the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution declaring Russia’s referendum invalid • March 31: the German government announced Putin’s order of a partial withdrawal of troops from the border with Ukraine

6. Recent events continued • April 1: NATO foreign ministers suspend civilian and military co-operation with Russia at meeting in Brussels (military alliance says it sees no sign of a Russian troop pullout from Ukraine’s border) • April 15: Ukrainian parliament passed a bill. The bill declared the Southern Crimea peninsula as territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation imposing travel restrictions on Ukrainians who wish to visit • April 17: the use of Russian armed forces along with Crimean self-defense troops was declared by the Russian president

7. Threat to World System • Russian aggression has thrown the position of the USA and Russia in turmoil • Cold War Mentality • Moving farther away from Political Norms post ColdWar • Russia does not fear any neighboring countries retaliation • Acting the guise of human rights • Breaking International Laws

8. Our Suggestions • Russia doesn’t think that the EU will impose sanctions because the majority of Europe is extremely dependent on Russia • Russia does not believe that the EU can move away from Russian Natural Gas (Russia has the Power) • We believe that the Obama Administration should call upon the EU to impose stricter sanctions on Russia • The United States cannot act unilaterally because we are not an important enough trading partner with Russia