STATUS OF THE DISPUTE OVER THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA AT PRESENT

Russia had to bear the brunt of Crimea’s decision to join it, even after it was a voluntary decision on
the part of Crimea. Russia received a flak from the west and sanctions have been imposed on it
from time to time. Russian and Crimean officials and politicians were prevented from traveling to
countries such as the United States, Canada etc. Though it didn’t have any massive loss after losing
its place in G-8, the accusation that Russia annexed Crimea, continues to tarnish its image in the
international community. There was also a move to refer the referendum of Crimea as “illegal” and
the security council resolution of 2014 was effectively blocked by Russia using its veto power.

After Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, it was the eastern parts of Ukraine that have
occupied the centre stage in the internal political turmoil of Ukraine. These parts have larger
populations who speak Russian and the three major cities of Donetsk, Lubansk and Kharkiv have
seen armed protests against the incumbent Kiev regime. The rebels have seized the offices of the
Government in the cities and their demands range from greater autonomy under Ukrainina flag to
Crimea like split based on referendum. In response to this, Kiev has planned an anti-terrorist
operation to clean up the government offices from rebels by military operation. This is the ongoing
Donbass conflict. However, even though this is the internal problem of Ukraine, it raises significant
concerns for Russia, who has voiced its concerns for peace in the region. It is true that Russia has
build up its military forces near Ukrainian border, it has maintained that there was no plan from
Russia’s side of any military invasion. It has only done this because this ongoing conflict posed a
security threat to Russia. But it is to be noted that there was no organized presence of Russia’s
military units in Ukraine but only in the borders. Whatever has been held otherwise by external
forces are untrue. This is because even if this was true that Russia was intervening in the ongoing
conflict, there was no concrete proof from the Ukrainian Government to held Russia accountable.

Russia denies that it has any hand in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine; which was already unstable
since 2014, due to its internal problems. Instead, it has tried to bring in peace through other
channels. For instance, it has placed economic sanctions in Ukraine by canceling the subsidized gas
supply. Also, it was only recently that Putin had advanced his idea of granting Donbass a ‘special
status’ within the Ukrainian legal system; after the Minsk agreements of 2015 couldn’t be
successful in bringing peace to the region.

It is noteworthy that in March 2019, thousands paraded through the streets of Simferopol whereby
they recited songs celebrating five year’s since the region’s reunification with Mother Russia, wore
Cossack costumes and proudly waved Russian and Crimean flags over their heads. The celebrations
lasted four days with President Putin attending the same. 1 This itself is an indicator that Crimea,
which always belonged to Russia, is prospering; with people’s lives improving under the Russian
regime. Still Ukraine is unsatisfied and claims Crimea as a part of Ukrainian territory and has even
tried taking Russia before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Court
of Justice (ICJ). This conflict over the Crimean peninsula has strained the relation between the two
countries of Russia and Ukraine.

1 Barelay Ballard, “Crimea doesn’t pay: accessing the economic impact of Russia’s annexation”, World Finance: The
voice of the market, 28 oct, 2019, <https://www.worldfinance.com/strategy/crimea-doesn’t-pay-assessing-the-
economic-impact-of-russias-annexation> accessed on 1st Novermber, 2019