U.S.Crimea, part of the Crane, was annexed by Russia in 2014 with the support of rebels. Since then, more than 14,000 people have been killed in clashes between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces. The world is on the brink of another war when Russia declares its occupation of Ukraine again more than eight years later. As the US-led Western powers line up with Ukraine, fears are mounting that the Russian occupation could lead to another world war.
In February 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, part of Ukraine. The Russian advance was backed by pro-Russian armed rebels. Russia has said the capture was aimed at protecting Ukrainians of Russian descent. On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crimean Parliament Speaker Vladimir Konstatino signed an agreement on the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
(Russian President Vladimir Putin signs the annexation of Crimea to Russia)
Russia was expelled from the G-8 bloc in protest of Russia’s action. The Russian judiciary claims that the majority of Crimeans are Russian-speaking and that Crimea had autonomy even as part of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since the opposition seized control of Ukraine, ousting pro – Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Russia has been trying to keep Ukraine, part of the former Soviet Union, in check since 1991. Ukraine has drawn Russia closer to the European Union and the US-led military alliance NATO. President Vladimir Putin has accused the US and Western nations of using Ukraine as a puppet in its moves against Russia. Russia has never allowed NATO allies to build military bases in the region.
Putin had warned Russian troops that Ukraine, a province of the former Soviet Union, would be attacked as soon as it became a member of NATO. Although not a member of NATO, the alliance provided all kinds of military assistance to Ukraine and provided military warm-ups to other European member states. Russia wants Western powers to ensure that Ukraine is not part of NATO. However, this was not only rejected, but NATO, Western nations and Ukraine declared their full support.
Russia announces military withdrawal from Ukraine after weeks of uncertainty Earlier, Russia announced that troops were returning, but neither Ukraine nor other countries believed it. Shortly before the military coup, Russia recognized the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic of the Donbass, two Russian-backed rebel strongholds in Ukraine.
The U.S. and other NATO allies, on the one hand, and China, with the support of China, and a few other countries on the other, are on the verge of a global war. U.S. President Joe Biden has made it clear that Russia’s attack is unjustifiable and that there will be a united response.