Abstract
A prolonged
crisis in Ukraine began on 21 November 2013, when then-president Viktor
Yanukovych suspended preparations for the implementation of an association
agreement with the European Union. This decision resulted in mass protests by
its opponents, known as the "Euromaidan". After months of such
protests, Yanukovych was ousted by the protesters on 22 February 2014, when he
fled the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev. Following his ousting, unrest
enveloped the largely Russophone eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, from
where he had drawn most of his support. An invasion by Russia in Ukrainian autonomous
region of Crimea resulted in the annexation of Crimea by Russia on 18 March.
Subsequently, unrest in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine evolved into a
war between the post-revolutionary Ukrainian government and pro-Russian
insurgents.
I.
Introduction
Crimea
region in Ukraine suddenly famous since become areas of the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine
in 2014 after the collapse of the government regime of President Viktor
Yanukovich is one of the internal conflicts that occur as a result of state
failure in carrying out its role. Conflict which had an internal conflict
extends into conflicts between countries because it involves many parties, not
only the parties to the dispute, but also others who feel the peace and security
threats as a result of the conflict. The conflict that cause the relationship
between Ukraine and Russia became estranged happens because most ethnic
Russians in Crimea want to again become part of Russia. The conflict occurred
because the majority of the population in the Crimea which is the original
ethnic of Russia gets discrimination from the new Ukrainian government after
regime’s overthrowing of the Victor Yanukovich government constitutionally and
therefore they demand the return of the Crimea under the Russian government.
But
there are some opinions that declare the desire of Crimea to re-join with
Russia is not just about the discrimination that they get from the new
government of Ukraine because of the intervention of the Russian side that were
made by Russian Military. The Russian military interventions in Ukraine, which
have led to the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and to the entrenchment of
separatist enclaves in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, directly challenge the
post-Cold War European state system.[1] That
is also the reason why Ukraine counterattacks against Russia. Ukraine's armed
forces will act if Russian military intervention escalates any further into
Ukraine's territory, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk told a news conference on March
06 2014. “In case of further escalation and military intervention into the
Ukrainian territory by foreign forces, the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian
military will act in accordance with the constitution and laws,” Yatsenyuk said
in Brussels. “We are ready to protect our country,” he said. Ukrainian forces
have so far not responded to the Russian takeover of the Crimean peninsula. But
this could change if the Russian intervention escalated, he said.[2]
But on the other hand if we look deeper, I think
there is US intervention in this case. There is some evidence that can be
proven US intervention in this case. According Galuzin, the conflict in Ukraine
could be widened as it is today because of the interference of Western countries
led by the US. For an example, in this case US government has contributed to
the radical separatist groups. They incited the group to oppose the legitimate
government in Ukraine.[3]
Paul, the former congressman also claimed the Ukraine civil war to be the fault
of American intervention.[4]
II.
Theoretical Framework
Crimea is an autonomous
region that has its own parliament, but physically and
Politically, Crimea remains into the sovereign
territory of Ukraine. History records that the Crimea was once part of the
Soviet Union (now disbanded and renamed Russia) before in 1954, when in that
time the Soviet leader which is Nikita Khrushchev handed over Crimea as a gift
to the Ukrainian.[5] However, because in 1991
Ukraine has to break away from the Soviet Union which means automatically the
Crimea itself became part of Ukraine. In this case, the Crimea does not have
the right to determine their fate because the right of determine the fate just only
to countries that are not within the sovereign territory of a country. The
question is whether the population of Crimea was actually coming from Russia?
Indeed, there has been no conclusive evidence. However, Russia has become the
dominant power in the Crimea since the last 200 years because it had control of
the city in 1783 although ultimately belongs to Ukraine since the breakup of
the Soviet Union.
According to census in 2011,
Crimea’s Population 2 million consists of ethnic Russians 58%, Ukrainians 24%,
Tatars 12%, other 6%.[6] The
mass media are now much more highlight the disputes between ethnic Russians and
Ukrainians who have their respective interests. Crimean peninsula is separated
from the Ukraine by the system Sivash shallow lagoon. Crimea coast line winding
and consists of several bays and harbors. Crimea relatively flat topography
because a large part of the peninsula consists of semiarid grassland or pasture
land. Mountains of Crimea is located along the southeast coast of the peninsula
them.[7]
By
law, the Crimea is still the part of Ukraine, and Russia has promised to uphold
the territorial integrity of Ukraine in a memorandum that also signed by the
US, Britain and France in 1994. On 1994’s Memorandum, point 1 “The Russian
Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the
United States of America reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, for respect the
independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine” and point 2
“reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against
the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine”.[8]
Internal
conflict due to the coup government in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital was already
considered a threat to the safety of ethnic Russians in Crimea. Internal
conflict due to the coup government in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital was already
considered a threat to the safety of ethnic Russians in Crimea. For that
reason, Russia sends aid to protect original ethnic Russians in Crimea. Seen
from the perspective of international law, the assistance provided by Russia
had violated the principle of non-intervention and directly gave a threat to
the Ukrainian government military forces. Not only that Russia has proposed the
holding of a referendum in the Crimea and establishes a new constitutional
Ukraine. The proposals from Russia prove that Russia as a country which is one
of the international law subjects has ignored its obligations as a state that
does not contribute to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.[9]
Although, the proposal to hold a referendum from Russia including interfering
in the domestic affairs of Ukraine, Crimea residents remained adamant to held
the referendum. Crimea referendum held on March 16, 2014 it was stated that the
Crimea away from Ukraine's sovereignty and join the Russian government. Crimea
region based on the results of the referendum has formally joined with Russia.
In general, international law does not restrict the
ways placement or withdrawal of the territorial sovereignty of a country.
However, there are five procedures for the acquisition of territory
internationally recognized namely the occupation, annexation, accretion, expiry
(prescription), and cassia. Based on the procedures for the acquisition of the
country's territory, Russia admitted to annexation of Crimea. De facto, annexation
can occur if there had previously been the conquest of a territory. The
existence of the annexation of Crimea by Russia's territory is much highlight
the attention of the international community, including the United Nations. The
existence of the annexation in Crimea territory by Russia's is much highlight
the attention of the international community, including the United Nations.
Associated with the annexation of the Crimea by
Russia, the United Nations through the Security Council has issued resolutions
of the UN Security Council of Crimea. The resolution was designed by the United
States declared plans for a referendum on the status of special autonomous
regions of Ukraine does not have validity and urged countries and international
institutions not to recognize the referendum.[10]
However, this resolution has been vetoed by Russia which incidentally is one of
the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
In the fact, Ukraine conflict with Russian to fight for
Crimea containing group interests and old revenge between East Block and West
Block which is led by America to support Ukraine against with Russia. Actually,
the opposition between the East Block and the West Block in the Cold War ended
with a marked collapse of the Soviet Union and America as the last man
standing. However, the seeds of revenge still seen as Russia as the main heir
to the Soviet Union still appears as an enemy of the United States. Competition
widened Russia and the United States in the struggle for power in Europe. Western
European countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) are present as an ally of the United States in the European region.[11]
While Russia still effort to build the cooperation with the countries of the Soviet
Union parts. The problem arises when the former Soviet Union prefers to join
NATO than with Russia. And the most case shows the competition between the US
and Russia is now the case this Crimea. Autonomous Republic of Crimea is
Ukrainian referendum secession of Ukraine. Ukraine wants to join NATO and
closer to Western Europe and the United States to make Russia to counter by
supporting the independence of Crimea from Ukraine. In this issue, the United
States is one of the members of NATO, the United States' involvement in this
issue in support of Ukraine maintain Crimea. NATO is a collective security
cooperation built by the United States after World War II.[12]
III.
Analysis
The statuses of Crimea which has been joined with
Russia and secede from Ukraine are still left various controversies in the
international environment. This causes the relationship between Ukraine and
Russia becomes unharmonious and indirectly threatens the peace and security of
the world. On the one hand, Ukraine considers Russia has violated the rights
and sovereignty of its territory by annexing the Crimea which is within the
sovereign territory Ukraine. And on the other hand, the society of Crimea itself
that request for held a referendum with the result Crimea society chooses to
join with Russia. Although the demand for held a referendum by the population
of Crimea is considered to occur because the intervention of Russia.
In this case the reason why Russia give an
Intervention caused by Overthrow of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych ally
of Russia, and Russia disapproval with the new government in Ukraine. Initially
Russia opposed rescheduling the election because the Russian government
considered the removal of then President Viktor Yanukovych illegal and his
temporary successors an "illegitimate junta”.[13]
Not just Russia, but The majority of the Crimea’s population which are Russian-speaking
also opposed to the new government and pro-Russian states. Through internal
conflicts that occur in the Ukraine provide a gap on Russia to intervene in the
Crimea and incorporate Crimea into its territory as the form of disapproval
Russia.
The other Reason Russia wants Crimea to back being
their parts because there is the Russian naval base in which rented from
Ukraine. Crimea is strategically important as a base for the Russian navy. The
Black Sea Fleet has been based on the peninsula since it was founded by Prince
Potemkin in 1783. The fleet’s strategic position helped Russia defeat Georgia
in the South Ossetia war in 2008, and remains crucial to Russian security
interests in the region. [14]
The West accused Russia aims to divide the former
Soviet Union territory. Russian intervention in Ukraine issues not assessed
accordance with international norms. Russia has got economic sanctions from the
West rejected the allegations. Although the upper house of the Russian
parliament has canceled a resolution that allows the use of military force in
Ukraine for the request of President Vladimir Putin, Russia's intransigence has
led to a negative reaction on the part of the EU. A total of 28 EU leaders said
Russia should take the decision to support the peace plan of Ukraine. Russia
asked to take effective steps to stop destabilizing Ukraine, create safe
conditions for the peace plan to be implemented and ending their support to the
armed separatist group.
EU also demanded that the
pro-Russian separatist movements agreed to return the border checkpoint to
Ukraine, freeing hostages and launch serious talks on the implementation of the
peace plan proposed by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
But beside the Intervention of Russian, in the fact
there is also intervention in US include in Ukraine conflict. "The existence
of the transfer issue if Russia deemed interfere in the domestic issues of
Ukraine. In fact, that is the way used by our partners of the West which is led
by US," said Galuzin.[15] In
his eyes, what was done by Russia to the Crimea does not like the so-called US
and Western countries over the years. This is proven with Crimea’s way which is
chooses to secede peacefully, without bloodshed or weapons. They choose to join
with Russia on their own. So far, Russia
has built good relations with Ukraine Russia. During the last four years has
been providing economic assistance in the form of cutting the price of gas sold
to Ukraine. Nominal equivalent is $ 35.4 billion. We also provide loans since
December 2013 valued at US $ 3 billion,
According to Roy also at this point the conflict was
just another chapter in Ukraine’s difficult post-Soviet history. There was
bound to be some discontent over the decision, but if there had been no foreign
intervention in support of the protests you would likely not be reading this
column today. The problem may well have solved itself in due time rather than
escalated into a full-out civil war. But the interventions of US and EU won out
again, and their interventionist project has been a disaster.[16] US
intervention in this case indirectly, they give military assistance to Ukraine.
The risk of civil war is nevertheless growing, and with it the chances of
outside powers being drawn into the conflict. Barack Obama has already sent
token forces to Eastern Europe and is under pressure, both from Republicans and
NATO hawks such as Poland, to send many more. Both United States and British
troops are due to take part in NATO military exercises in Ukraine this summer.[17]
In this conflict is not just Ukraine and Russian
that involved but also American which is in this conflict take a participation
to defend Ukraine back to against Russian. American acts to be involved in the
Crimean conflict must not be separated from America's own national interests,
ranging from Power, Peace, Prosperity and Principles.
The Implements of American national interests of
Instrument Power in the case of Crimea is America can add alliances in Europe,
with Ukraine in the alliance affiliated with America through the European Union
also create opportunities to re-enter the Ukrainian territory of Crimea into
the greater "alliance against a mutual enemy" Secondly is the
instrument of Peace, the United States as a superpower that always exalt the
human rights of its trying to influence so as to reduce conflict prolonged
through cooperation with the EU and other countries through the United Nations
so that it can stop the war and the intervention of Russia in the Crimea.
"Anarchy can not be eliminated; but can be tempered or regulated via int'l
Organizations, negotiations, treaties ". The third is to Prosperity,
Crimea which has natural resources such as natural gas so large and become a
gas supplier in the countries Europe. If Crimea under the Russian, it can
threaten the interests of America's allies, especially countries in Europe
Barat. Fourth is Principles, USA which always seeks to spread understanding and
democratic values in the world, wants democracy can also be applied in
Ukraine, especially eastern European countries are more inclined to communism and
weakening the influence of communism in Europe. Following are the explanation
of the reasons the United States involvement in the conflict of Crimea.[18]
In this case The United States supports Ukraine
maintaining Crimea. According to United States to stem the influence of Russia
is one of the motives why Crimea should not fall back into Russian territory.
Besides being an old enemy during the Cold War, the strategic region of Crimea
needs to be maintained to weaken the influence of Russia's entry into the
Middle East, Asia, and Africa. If viewed in geopolitics, Russia borders with
countries such as Poland, Belaruss, and Ukraine. Where Poland is more likely to
gravitate to US influence and Bellarus gravitate to Russian influence. Thus,
Ukraine became the key to weaken Russian influence into the Middle East region.
Besides the reasons, Americans are involved because
of the seizure of the territory on the Crimean much motivated by a variety of
things, even though one of them motivated by the historical conflict, also
because of the potential energy possessed by the Crimean form of natural gas that
are important to the world.[19] Ukraine
is also the largest exporter of wheat and corn world. The price of these
commodities will increase if the Ukrainian crisis continues. This will increase
the price imbalance in the region that consumes both commodities. That is why
the USA intervened in the Ukraine conflict.
IV.
Conclusion and Suggestion
-
Conclusion
In this case there is not enough evidence that
support Crimea statement if their get
Discrimination from new government of Ukraine but
there are some evidence that proven Russian intervention and American
Intervention that makes this conflict heats up. Russian that initially
instigated the Crimea to reunite with Russia as a form of Russia disapproval
for the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich until being a conflict. Then
be the opportunity also to USA for intervenes in this conflict because of old
revenge with defense Ukraine against Russia. The United States also intervene
in the conflict Crimea is because the national interests of America itself, and
as the implementation of the four principles of the interests of American
foreign itself that Power, Peace, Prosperity and Principles, as well as the
competition between the US and Russia is geopolitically, where the United
States wants to stem the influence of Russia. The strategic region of Crimea
needs to be maintained to weaken the influence of Russia's entry into the
Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Other reason is the issue of human rights
.
-
Suggestion
This is an issue that
can only be settled by Ukraine and Russia, and only
they are
without any
intervention from other countries and Russia itself. Try to do soft diplomacy
Without hard diplomacy
that caused many casualties was killed in vain. Obey the
Applicable of international law and the memorandum
agreed together. And if the decision to split from Ukraine and join Russia is still
the desire of Crimea alone tries to talk about it well through the soft
diplomacy way. And once again No intervention in this conflict because it is
proved as the caused that makes this conflict more heats up.
[1] Allison, Roy. 2014. "International Affairs". Russian ‘Deniable Intervention’ In Ukraine: How And Why Russia Broke The Rules 90. doi:10.1111/(issn)1468-2346.
[2] Pike, John. 2015. "Ukraine Crisis - Russian Military Intervention". Globalsecurity.Org.
[3] VIVA.co.id, PT. 2014. "Duta Besar AS Dan Rusia Berdebat Soal Penyebab Konflik Ukraina".
Dunia.News.Viva.Co.Id.
[4] Frye, Patrick. 2015. "WW3: U.S. Intervention In Ukraine By Obama To Blame For World War 3 Fears, Claims
Ron Paul". The Inquisitr News.
[6] BBC News,. 2015. "Crimea Profile - Overview - BBC News”.
[7] Sasse, Gwendolyn. 2007. The Crimea Question. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.
[12] History.state.gov,. "North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 1949 - 1945–1952 - Milestones - Office Of The
Historian"
[13] HERSZENHORN, DAVID. 2014. "As Ukrainian Election Looms, Western Powers And Russia Campaign For
Influence"
[14] Mortimer, Caroline. 2014. "Ukraine Crisis: Why Is Crimea So Important To Russia?". The Independent.
[15] VIVA.co.id, PT. 2014. "Duta Besar AS Dan Rusia Berdebat Soal Penyebab Konflik Ukraina".
Dunia.News.Viva.Co.Id. Ibid,.
[16] Paul, Ron. 2015. "Interventionism Kills: Post-Coup Ukraine One Year Later". Ronpaulinstitute.Org.
[17] Milne, Seumas. 2014. "It's Not Russia That's Pushed Ukraine To The Brink Of War | Seumas Milne".
[18]Anna, Berezhnaya, Anna Wright, Isabel Adams, Daniel Calvo, Andra Tudor, Sanskar Shrivastava, Pearl Kalra,
Todor Bozhinov, and Ethan Rogers. 2015. "US Involvement In Ukraine Crisis. More Disturbing Or Problem
Solving? – The World Reporter". Theworldreporter.Com.
[19] Gloystein, Henning. 2015. "Ukraine's Black Sea Gas Ambitions Seen At Risk Over Crimea". Reuters.
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