Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation was a significant event in the Post-Soviet era, involving the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, and the Ukrainian crisis. This event was closely related to the Euromaidan protests, the Yanukovych regime, and the Russian-Ukrainian War. The annexation was widely condemned by the United Nations General Assembly, the European Union, and the United States, with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and François Hollande playing key roles in the international response.

Background

The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation has its roots in the Soviet era, when Nikita Khrushchev transferred the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954. This decision was made without the consent of the Russian people or the Ukrainian people, and it has been a point of contention between Russia and Ukraine ever since. The Orange Revolution, led by Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, further strained relations between the two countries, as did the Russian-Georgian War and the South Ossetia war. The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, signed by Bill Clinton, John Major, and Boris Yeltsin, was intended to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in exchange for its nuclear disarmament, but it failed to prevent the annexation of Crimea.

International Reaction

The international reaction to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation was overwhelmingly negative, with Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The European Union, led by Herman Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton, imposed economic sanctions on Russia, as did the United States, led by Barack Obama and John Kerry. The G7 and the G20 also condemned the annexation, with David Cameron, Angela Merkel, and Shinzo Abe playing key roles in the international response. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe also criticized the annexation, as did the NATO and the European Court of Human Rights.

Timeline of the Annexation

The timeline of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation began with the Euromaidan protests, which led to the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych and the establishment of a new government in Ukraine. The Russian Armed Forces then began to occupy Crimea, with Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov playing key roles in the military operation. The Crimean referendum was held on March 16, 2014, with the majority of voters supporting the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia was signed on March 18, 2014, and the Russian Federation officially annexed Crimea on March 21, 2014. The Ukrainian crisis continued to escalate, with the War in Donbas and the Minsk agreements.

Legal Status

The legal status of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is highly disputed, with the United Nations General Assembly passing a resolution that affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights have also ruled that the annexation is illegal, as have the Ukrainian Constitutional Court and the Russian Constitutional Court. The Hague Conventions and the Geneva Conventions also prohibit the annexation of territory by force, as does the United Nations Charter. The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and the Partnership for Peace also provide a framework for resolving the crisis peacefully.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation has been marked by ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as between Russia and the West. The Russian-Ukrainian War has continued to escalate, with the War in Donbas and the Minsk agreements. The European Union and the United States have maintained economic sanctions on Russia, and the NATO has increased its military presence in Eastern Europe. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe have also continued to play key roles in resolving the crisis, as have the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Vladimir Putin regime has faced widespread criticism for its actions in Ukraine, as have the Dmitry Medvedev and Sergei Lavrov regimes. The Ukrainian people and the Russian people have also suffered greatly as a result of the crisis, with many refugees and internally displaced persons.

Category:International relations