Background

In 2013, protests broke out in Ukraine against former President Victor Yaunkovych who was seen by many in eastern Ukraine as too "pro-Russia." These protests quickly turned violent as government forces were accused of injuring and killing several protestors. Within a few months, Yaunkovych was dispatched as president, and a new provisional government was put into place.

Tensions increased as Russia moved to annex the western region of Crimea, drawing condemnation across the globe. This quickly caused a backlash from pro-Ukrainian forces who sought to keep Crimea in Ukraine as well as wide-ranging sanctions and condemnations from across the western world. This conflict has continued, with Russia adding supporting separatist forces and the government of Ukraine pushing back. This has led to wide-spread speculation as to the motivations of Vladimir Putin and the Russian military leadership.

Why This Is Happening And What It Means

In Russia, the president can only serve two four-year terms, much like in the US. Yet unlike in the US, the president can run again after a four year break. President Vladimir Putin took advantage of this by serving as president from 2000 to 2008, taking a four year break and inserting his close ally Demetri Medvedev as president. In 2012, after a four year break, President Putin once again won the presidency in a controversial election in which he and members of his party were accused of widespread corruption. This led to an outpouring of protests against the new presidency of Vladimir Putin across the nation.

Putin knew he needed to correct this. In post-communist eastern Europe, political stability is largely based on the prospection of strong leaders who are able to hold together their coalition and government. Putin knew this, and he knew that he had to do something in order to deflate the protest and secure his position as president. This largely explains his action is Crimea. By rallying his countrymen against the new pro-western government in Ukraine, he has been able strengthen his control and garner the support of his people. The Russian people see Putin as a strong man who is attempting to reassert the Russian power on the global stage, and they love him for it.

Since the annexation of Crimea, Putin has become overwhelmingly popular within his own country. Despite an economic depression brought on by low oil prices and international sanctions, Putin continues to be extremely popular among his own people because he is strengthening the Russian people and standing up to NATO, the US and the West.

Many fear this reassertion of Russian power. Putin continues to strengthen his position on the global stage through aggressive anti-western policy. Relations between Russia and the West continue to deteriorate over issues such as Crimea and Syria. Who is right largely depends on one’s geographic position and cultural perspective. If you are Russian or pro-Russia, you are glad that your country is once again asserting its power and standing up to western hegemonic control of international affairs. But if you are in the US, you perceive this as unwarranted and disturbing aggression, something that must be dealt with and counteracted. Crimea is just the first in a long series of efforts by Russia to reclaim what the Russian people feel they lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union.This is a theme that will continued to play out across the globe as Russia continues to assert itself on the global stage in a way that discomforts the interest of the West.