Russie-Ukraine : aux origines de la guerre | Géopoliticus | Lumni
Common Roots of Ukraine and Russia
This section discusses the common historical roots between Ukraine and Russia, tracing back to the Slavic and Orthodox state known as the Rus of Kiev.
Historical Development of Ukraine
- The Rus of Kiev developed in the 9th century with the arrival of Vikings from Scandinavia who settled in Kiev, the current capital of Ukraine.
- In the 16th century, western parts of Ukraine were influenced by the Republic of Two Nations, composed of Lithuania and Poland.
- The Republic spread Catholicism and established strong ties with Western Europe.
- Southern and western parts of Ukraine were integrated into the Russian Empire formed in 1721.
- In 1917, during the Russian Revolution, an independent Ukrainian republic was created for five years before being reintegrated into the Soviet Union.
Stalin's Persecutions and Crimea's Transfer
This section highlights Stalin's persecutions to suppress Ukrainian nationalism and discusses Crimea's transfer to Ukraine in 1954.
Stalin's Persecutions
- To prevent Ukrainian nationalism from emerging, Stalin carried out political persecutions.
Transfer of Crimea
- In 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea, located in the heart of the Black Sea, to Ukraine as a symbolic gesture celebrating the reunification between Russia and Kiev.
Recent Events: Euromaidan Protests and Conflict
This section covers recent events including Euromaidan protests, Russia's annexation of Crimea, and ongoing conflict in eastern regions.
Euromaidan Protests
- In late 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union, leading to massive pro-European protests known as the Euromaidan movement.
- The protests resulted in a change of power through force.
Annexation of Crimea and Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
- In response to the Euromaidan movement, Russia annexed Crimea.
- Russian-speaking regions in Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence, leading to a prolonged conflict with the rest of Ukraine.
Motivations and Divisions
This section explores the motivations behind Russia's actions and the divisions within Ukraine.
Motivations
- For Ukraine, losing territories means parting with valuable parts of its territory economically and humanly.
- For Russia, relinquishing control over Ukraine risks Western alliances expanding up to its borders. Vladimir Putin's motivations are also symbolic, emphasizing historical roots between Russia and Ukraine.
Divisions within Ukraine
- The Ukrainian population remains divided.
- Northern and western regions predominantly speak Ukrainian and favor integration into the European Union and NATO.
- Southern and eastern regions, mainly Russian-speaking, are more open to integration within Moscow's proposed cooperation space with former Soviet republics.