Was Ukrain doomed from the beginning?
What is happening in Ukraine?What impact will it have?How was the state of Ukraine created?These are some of the questions we addressed in the first session of the crisis management course with professors Betty Tsakarestou and Mania Xenou.
What happened to Ukraine and why?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine opens the Pandora’s box of revisionism and militarism in Europe.
Putin’s immediate goal is to establish a government that is friendly, if not controlled.
It is reported in analyses that his ultimate goal is to restore Russia’s sphere of influence as it was in the days of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.
At the political level, it is a revival of the West-Russia cold war, this time using military means to achieve political objectives within the European area.
At the political level, it is a revival of the cold war between the West and Russia, this time using military means to achieve political objectives within the European area.
The problem has emerged in the way NATO on the one hand and the EU on the other, and in particular in the way decisions are taken and executed.
Essentially, two cultures are clashing. The liberal Western and the Russian.
Βut how was the state of Ukraine established?
Taking a historical review, we will see that during the 7th and 8th centuries, the further economic, cultural and linguistic unification of certain states began, with the parallel transformation of certain ethnic and political communities into feudal hegemony. Due to their gradual unification, a powerful state emerged at the end of the 8th to 11th centuries, which was called Kyivskaia Rus, the cultural and economic centre of which was Kyiv.
However, after the peak of the Yevskaya Rus era and the development of the Galichko-Volinskaya state, the first half of the 18th century found Ukraine now under the rule of Ivan Mazepa, one of the most important and controversial political leaders of the time, whose leadership led to an upward trend of economic and cultural development and the creation of a new state union. Of course, parallel to the rise was the pressure from Russia, whose actions continued to cause discontent among the population.
Continuing in the 18th century, a series of events such as the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire in 1774, the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich in 1775 and the annexation of the Crimean Khanate in 1783 created the conditions for the mining and colonization of the Eastern sphere of influence of Ukraine.
In conclusion, after the Russo-Turkish War in 1768–1774 and the Peace Treaty of Kiechuk Kainarji, the clearing of Ukraine’s autonomy gained new impetus. However, one could argue that Russia’s expansion was a dominant factor in Ukraine’s history.
As we understand, the problems between the Ukrainian state and Russia go back a long way. But coming to the present, Henry Kissinger, one of the most renowned political analysts and diplomats, warned in 2014, in his article in the Washington Post, about the turn the situation between Russia and Ukraine would take.
Ιn more detail some of his most notable and prophetic comments were first that Russia must accept that trying to force Ukraine into satellite status will condemn it to repeat the history of mutual pressures with Europe and the United States; while the West must realize that Russia will never see Ukraine as a foreign country, since it is an integral part of Russian history and the Russian religion was spread from there. Russia would not be able to impose a military solution without isolating itself; while for the West, the demonisation of Putin is an alibi for its absence on the issue.However, he said that the US should avoid treating Russia as a deviant that will patiently learn rules of conduct established by Washington as this will never happen.
Specifically, Κissinger made some proposals for the benefit of both sides.First, he stressed that Ukraine should have the right to freely choose its economic and political alliances, including Europe, and should not join NATO. At the international level, it should adopt a stance similar to that of Finland.This nation leaves no doubt about its absolute independence and also cooperates with the West in most areas, but carefully avoids institutional hostility towards Russia. finally, he stressed that Russia’s acquisition of Crimea is incompatible with the rules of the existing world order. However, it should be possible to put the relationship between Crimea and Ukraine on a less problematic basis. To this end, Russia will recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea.
Βut what the Russian invasion means for the European Union?
Russia’s actions in Ukraine directly affect many EU members, as they feel personally threatened. There is a belief that Vladimir Putin has his eyes much further away from Ukraine and. Consequently, he wants to redesign Europe’s security architecture in his favour.
In addition, the 27 EU member states have unanimously agreed to submit a package of sanctions against Russia, and according to Vice President Joseph Borel, the sanctions to be imposed will target more sectors of the Russian economy, transport and energy as well as the financial sector.
More specifically, the sanctions include cutting off the supply of natural gas that the EU receives from Russia, which makes up 40% of its gas and about 25% of its oil, which will result in a major loss and precision game. The same will happen in the agri-food sector.
While on the tourism industry, which directly affects our country, and was just beginning to show signs of recovery from the pandemic hit, it will now be affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
Finally, Ukraine’s immediate neighbours are concerned that they will find themselves on the front line of a new migration crisis if the Ukrainians try to abandon hostilities in mass rallies. Brussels says contingency plans are being prepared to help refugees as much as to compensate EU countries that will be hardest hit by sanctions.
In conclusion , Russia’s attack on Ukraine is an unprecedented development for the European area that will certainly have serious implications for all countries.
Say It Social Team: Nikolina Thoma, Nikoletta Andreopoulou , @Helena Michopoulou, Evelina Konsolaki, @Maria Antzoulatou, Eftychios Roti, Maria Christopoulou
Betty Tsakarestou, Mania Xenou
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