Russian President Vladimir Putin has escalated tensions over Ukraine by announcing that he recognizes two self-proclaimed separatist “democracies” in eastern Ukraine.
Putin has sent “peacekeepers” to the “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics”, raising US and European concerns that Moscow is moving to take control of internationally recognized territories as part of Ukraine.
Russia, for its part, has repeatedly denied any plans to attack, and Putin has said his country is not considering annexing the region. However, according to Bloomberg, the decrees are the latest move in Putin’s 20-year campaign to restore Russian sovereignty over its former Soviet neighbors and prevent them from forging closer ties with the West.
Here is a closer look at the soils and why they are now in the spotlight:
What are the “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics”?
These regions were once the “industrial heart” of Ukraine, part of the Russian-speaking provinces in the southeast of the country. Russian-backed separatists have seized control of the region following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, a move that coincided with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The fighting has killed at least 14,000 people and left more than 1 dead. 4 million deportations within Ukraine, according to government figures.
The rebels occupy about a third of the provinces and call them the “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DNR) and the “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LNR). No country has recognized them until Russia did. Moscow has provided them with financial and military support since its inception and has issued Russian passports to hundreds of thousands of people there.
Why are they now in the spotlight?
Russia wants Donetsk and Luhansk to gain autonomy that will provide them with a substantial veto on major changes in Ukraine’s orientation, that is, to Western integration backed by a significant majority of the country’s population of 41 million. That would be a political suicide for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is trying to boost economic growth and curb corruption. Zelensky told diplomats that Ukraine needed a “very clear perspective” on joining NATO, and Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance continued to support Ukraine’s bid to join.
The ceasefire in the area has always been precarious, with thousands of violations every year. In a situation of concern, with thousands of Russian troops gathering along Ukraine’s border, this is the most likely source of a pretext for a wider conflict. Russia has offered citizenship to residents of the breakaway regions and a threat to their lives could be used as an excuse for further action.
Why is the West interested?
If US warnings of invasion materialize, it could be the worst European security crisis since World War II, overshadowing tensions sparked by the annexation of Crimea and previous fighting in eastern Ukraine. The United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom are finalizing a package of sanctions in the event of a Russian invasion. Possible measures include targeting its billionaires, additional public debt restrictions, disrupting lenders’ ability to use dollars or blocking the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
The West has also invested heavily in Ukraine’s success. The International Monetary Fund has provided support to the country, billions of dollars have flowed in from the World Bank and the European Union, and the United States has provided loan guarantees and military assistance.
Source: Capital
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