Why is Putin so focused in Ukraine

Here you can learn some of the reasons why it matters to Putin so much and why he has chosen to promote this crisis.

History

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia lost control of 14 former republics that earlier dominated, but Ukraine's loss was the worst loss. These two countries have been linked since the 9th century, when Kiev became the capital of the ancient Russian state. In 998, the then ruler of Russia, Prince Vladimir, brought Orthodox Christianity to Russia.

By 1654, Russia and Ukraine were united through a treaty under Russian Czar. The two states speak similar languages, and later, with Belarus, they created the Slavic nucleus of the Soviet Union.

Many Russians are more connected to Ukraine than to other former Soviet states found in Baltic, Caucasus and Central Asia.

For this link between Russia and Ukraine, Putin alludeed to an article published in June, where he said the Russians and Ukrainian were a people sharing “a single historical and spiritual space” and that the appearance of a “muri” among them in recent years was tragic.

Kiev rejected this thesis, which he described as politically motivated and as a simplification of history.

Geopolitical

Since the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) expanded eastward, joining 14 new states, including the states of the former Warsaw Treaty and three Baltic states, which were once part of the Soviet Union. Russia saw this as a threat to its borders.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but the military alliance since 2008 has promised Kiev that one day it will join.

Since Ukraine in 2014 ousted a pro-rus president from power, this state has drawn close to the West and participated in joint military exercises with NATO. In addition, Ukraine has accepted weapons, including anti-tank cases Yavelin of the United States and are afraid of Turkey.

Kiev and Washington see these as legitimate moves to strengthen Ukrainian defence after Russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and offers support to separatists still struggling with government forces east of Ukraine.

Russian President Putin has said that deepening Kiev's reports with NATO could make Ukraine a place from which NATO missiles can hit Russia.

Russia also denies allegations of Ukraine and the US that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine. Moscow argues it is only responding to threats and provocations. Russia wants security guarantees from the West, including giving up its promise NATO that one day Ukraine will become part of the Alliance.

Putin's Mind and His Motives

As a leader who does not tolerate almost any opposition within Russia, Putin has a strong dislike for revolutions in neighbouring states that could encourage protests in Russia.

In Belarus, he backed authoritarian leader Alyaxander Lucashenka after mass protests over the past year. In the case of Ukraine, the notion of a democratic and prosperous neighbouring state, which is on the way for possible membership in the European Union and NATO, is something unpleasant and potentially threatening to Putin if such a thing inspires the Russians with a pro-Western vision.

But holding tensions on Ukraine helps Putin reinforce the political message in Russia: that he is a staunch advocate of Russia's interests in the world, where he is surrounded by enemies and threats.

Leaving the West to speculate over a possible invasion of Ukraine, it has put Russia ahead of the international agenda and forced US President Joe Biden to talk to Putin at a virtual meeting on December 7th.

Putin's public statements suggest his actions are motivated by his personal beliefs as well as political tactics. He may also be thinking about his legacy { Putin can run for two more six-year terms after his current presidential mandate expires in 2024.

In an interview, aired on December 12th, he spoke of the collapse of the Soviet Union, which he described as the destruction of “historic Russia”, in which “that was built for 1,000 years, was largely lost”. Such statements support the opinions of some analysts who say Putin sees Ukraine as “unfinished questions” and wants to repeat the scenario of the prosecution of the Crime that increased his popularity in Russia by taking further action to restore a part or all of Ukraine under Moscow's control.

Reuters