THE MERGER OF CRIMEA INTO RUSSIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE POST-SOVIET STATES

Abstract

The study probes into the causes and effects of Ukrainian crisis and merger of Crimea into Russia. It also endeavours to examine the implications for post-Soviet states. It is pointed out that external forces' competition of power combined with internal political conflicts have triggered the Ukrainian crisis and resulted into the fragmentation of Ukraine. Here, the entrenched causes of hostility between Russia and Ukraine are studied in the context of Eurasianism. An effort is made in addition to highlight Russia's foreign policy towards the post-Soviet republics in which Moscow seeks the support of the latter in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. Moscow’s grand strategy to exert influence on the ex-Soviet Union states and protect the Russian-speaking population in and around Russia was a prima facie case to merge Crimea. Therefore, the logic of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) approach serves as a good pretext to cover Russia’s action in Ukraine. Subsequently, the former Soviet states have come to adopt wary approach towards Russia. Finally, the paper will offer a futuristic outlook of Russian relations with the post-Soviet states.