The main flashpoint of the day is Ukraine, according to the 15 December Reuters. com world europe five-potential flashpoints between russia-ukraine -- 2021 -- 12 -- 13 in Russia's relations with the West after a build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops near its border and a series of tough statements from President Vladimir Putin setting out his red lines. Here are three sets of reasons why Putin feels so strongly about Ukraine and has chosen to bring the crisis to a head.
With the dissolved Soviet Union in 1991, Russia lost control of 14 former republics it had previously dominated, but the loss of Ukraine was the bitterest pill. The two had been linked since the 9th century when Kyiv became the capital of the ancient Russian state of Rus. In 988 its ruler, Grand Prince Vladimir, introduced Orthodox Christianity to Russia. Russia and Ukraine were united by treaty under the reign of the Russian tsar from 1654 to 1654. The two countries speak closely related languages, and later formed with Belarus, the Slav core of the Soviet Union. Many Russians feel a connection with Ukraine that they do not feel towards other former Soviet states in the Baltics, Caucasus and Central Asia.
In an article in June, Putin said Russians and Ukrainians were one people who shared a single historic and spiritual space, and that the emergence of a wall between them in recent years was tragic. Kyiv rejected his argument as a politically motivated and over-simplified version of history.
Since the Cold War ended, NATO has expanded eastwards by taking in 14 new countries, including the states of the former Warsaw Pact and the three Baltic nations that were once in the Soviet Union. Russia saw this as a threat to its borders.
Ukraine is not a NATO member, but has a promise from 2008 that it will eventually get to join. Since he was replaced by a pro-Russian president in 2014, it has moved closer to the West, staged joint military exercises with NATO and taken delivery of weapons including U.S. Javelin anti-tank missiles and Turkish drones. Kyiv and Washington see these as legitimate moves to strengthen Ukraine's defence after Russia seized the Crimea region in 2014 and gave backing to separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine. Putin believes that Ukraine's growing ties with the alliance could make it a launchpad for NATO missiles targeted at Russia.
Russia rejects Ukrainian and U.S. suspicions that it may be preparing an invasion of Ukraine, saying it is responding only to threats and provocations. It wants security guarantees from the West, including the rescinding of NATO's membership promise to Kyiv.
Putin is a strong aversion to revolutions in neighbourly countries that could encourage protests in Russia, as a leader who tolerates virtually no domestic opposition. In Belarus, he helped prop up veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko after mass demonstrations last year. The tension over Ukraine helps Putin reinforce the political message in Russia: that he is a resolute defender of Russia's interests in a world where it is surrounded by enemies and threats. The West guessing about a possible invasion of Ukraine has put Russia high on the international agenda and forced U.S. President Joe Biden to re-engage with Putin in a video call on December 7.
Putin's public statements suggest that his actions are driven by personal conviction and political tactics. He may be thinking of his own legacy - he could run for up to two more six-year terms after his current mandate ends in 2024. com world europe putin-rues- soviet-collapse-historical Russia - which boosted his popularity in Russia - with further action to bring back part or all of Ukraine under Moscow's control.