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Why did Russia need Crimea and Eastern Ukraine?
by zn44 10y ago
Why did Russia need Crimea and Eastern Ukraine?
- iwintermute 10y agoCrimea - it's were russian navi is. The former soviet military harbors for Black sea were rented by Russia. When power changed in the Ukraine to be USA/NATO oriented Russia did everything to keep it's military presence. As for Eastern Ukraine - I feel like Russia doesn't need it per se - just as distraction and zone of destabilization in order to protect Crimea.
- konart 10y agoRussia needs Crimea to secure it's excess to the Black see. Losing Crimea to NATO (or losing it at all) would be a huge problem. As long as you have Crimea - you basically control most of the Black Sea. As for the Eastern Ukraine - best case scenario - securing a terrain pass to Crimea. Worst case scenario - destabilisation of the the country and more 'ground' during negotiations over any deal. Almost like taking hostages. Baltics don't have such values.
- arpa 10y agooh yeah? How about Kaliningrad, a military base, not being an enclave anymore?
- iwintermute 10y agoMilitary base is not stronghold anymore. You don't need to protect it from siege. Kaliningrad is just a place of location of strategic missiles of medium range. It single-use weapon. You don't need ground path to Kalinigrad.
- arpa 10y agoAnd there is no personnel (along with their families) and no logistics involved. Yeah, sure, why not.
- zn44 10y agoBaltic states have no value? How about connecting to Kaliningrad and more destabilisation?
- zn44 10y agoAlso Russia neighbours should sleep well only because they don't have something Putin wants now?
- zigzigzag 10y agoRussia never "took" Eastern Ukraine, even today. It mostly sat on the sidelines whilst a civil war between pro-EU and pro-Russian forces played itself out, at most sending weapons and special forces just like the West did.
- pipio21 10y agoCrimea? Sebastopol port has always been part of Russia and the center of their fleet because it does not get frozen in Winter like other ports. Having ships under frozen water is the same as not having ships at all. Easter Ukraine? It is were the industry of Ukraine is. It is very near Russia and as most of Russia is plain, it is very easy to invade the country(Russia) from it. Russia wants to have a buffer around their country in the same way the US does not let anybody to have military bases and missiles near the country, like in Cuba.