Russia and Ukraine have lived together since 1654. At that time, Ukraine was still a Cossack hetmanate, and in order to escape the oppression of the Poles, it had to choose Russia, which was also a place for refuge in the East Slavs.
Of course, the premise of the merger, the Cossack hetmantates also made it very clear that they needed to retain their independence, that is, autonomy. Tsarist Russia is naturally full of joy, it doesn't matter what the conditions are, after all, a large piece of land for nothing, or a large area of arable land, why not?
After the Cossack hetmanship joined Russia, Russia began to slowly assimilate the Cossack nobility with Russian culture. But Cossack civilians, not in the scope of Russian assimilation. This led to a very realistic situation in Ukraine, even if they were all Ukrainians, but some were more inclined to Russian culture, and some were biased towards Ukrainian culture.
When Russia fell in 1917, Russia and Ukraine briefly separated, but with the rise of Soviet Russia and their repeated victories on the battlefield, Ukraine merged with Russia again to form the Soviet Union in 1922.
The importance of Crimea for Russia
As early as the 17th century, Peter I made a bold statement to seize the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Heilongjiang Sea.
In 1721, the Baltic Sea was successfully captured by Peter I, who founded St. Petersburg and moved the capital of Tsarist Russia here.
However, the Heilongjiang estuary, after a battle with the Qing army, did not capture it. According to the Treaty of Nebuchu signed by the two sides in 1689, all the south of the Trans-Khingan Mountains were Chinese territory, which became a regret for Peter I.
As for the Black Sea access, Peter I also failed to do it, as long as the Crimean peninsula was in the hands of the enemy, then Tsarist Russia could not develop its own power in the Black Sea with peace of mind.
It wasn't until 1783, when Russia defeated the Ottoman Turks and seized the Crimean peninsula, that the place really fell into Russian hands.
Peter I helped Tsarist Russia seize the Baltic coast, so he received the laurel of the Great. Catherine II helped Tsarist Russia seize the Crimea, so she also received the laurel of the Great.
It stands to reason that Alexander II, who seized the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, should also be named the Great, after all, the land he plundered from the east exceeded 5 million square kilometers. However, his serfdom reform hurt the interests of many nobles, so he missed out on the emperor.
With the Crimean Peninsula, Russia's main task in the 19th century was to march into the Black Sea, and then seek to dominate the Black Sea. Even after a crushing defeat in the Crimean War of 1856 and the loss of the opportunity to dominate the Black Sea, Tsarist Russia was not discouraged. Because they did not lose the Crimea, then there is a chance to make a comeback.
Sure enough, in 1878, Tsarist Russia defeated Ottoman Turkey again, regained its grip on the Balkans, and almost became the new Black Sea hegemon. It can be said that the Crimean peninsula is the base from which they dominate the Black Sea, and with here, in the future, it will be possible for them to turn the Black Sea into their inland sea.
Origins: Crimea and Ukraine
In ancient times, there was little relationship between the Crimean peninsula and Ukraine. No matter what kind of fan you are, you have to admit it. Because before 1783, Crimea was the sphere of influence of Ottoman Turkey and was part of the Crimean Khanate. After 1783, Tsarist Russia ate the Crimean peninsula without any direct connection with Ukraine. After all, this place is too important, and Tsarist Russia naturally has to keep it firmly in its hands.
But in modern times, things have changed. In 1954, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the merger of Russia and Ukraine, the Soviet Union ceded the Crimean Peninsula to Ukraine.
It's a bit confusing, why do you have to do it?
Some people say that because Khrushchev started in Ukraine, he has feelings for this place, so he will give Crimea to Ukraine. In fact, this statement is too personal and emotional.
This was not something that Khrushchev could decide alone, but a unanimous decision of the entire Soviet leadership. Khrushchev was still far from the heights of Stalin, and he could have the final say alone.
So why is this happening?
I think that the Soviet authorities still considered the problem mainly from a practical point of view.
- First of all, the Crimean Peninsula is heavily dependent on the import of resources from Ukraine, and it is much more convenient to import living materials and fresh water resources from Ukraine than from Russia itself.
- Secondly, Ukraine is also a very important part of the Soviet Union, known as the great granary of the Soviet Union. Since it is a fraternal unit and belongs to an internal affair, it is not much different.
- In addition, I think there is another important reason, and that is that Turkey joined NATO in 1952. What does this have to do with Crimea? If Turkey joins NATO, it will be impossible for the Soviet Union to go out of the Black Sea or dominate the Black Sea. That is, the strategic value of the Crimean peninsula is suddenly significantly reduced.
Therefore, the Soviet Union's assignment of Crimea to Ukraine is understandable, and it does not have too much selfishness. In this way, it is convenient to manage, reduce costs and increase efficiency, and improve efficiency, why not?
Four regions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea
It can be seen from this that when calculating historical accounts, Russia and Ukraine cannot be calculated. It's basically the state that you have me, and I have you. The best dividing line has to start from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the separation of Russia and Ukraine.
Judging by the situation after the separation of Russia and Ukraine, Crimea completely belongs to Ukraine. Russia also agrees with this, and there is no disagreement. Moreover, Russia also spent a lot of money to lease the port of Sevastopol as a port for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. If you don't admit it, why rent it? Wouldn't it be cheaper to use it directly?
In addition, the four eastern regions of Ukraine, namely Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, are naturally also Ukrainian territory, which Russia naturally recognized when it was separated in 1991.
So why did there be a disagreement later? It's like when the couple divorced and broke up peacefully, and the division of property was very clear. But after a period of time, Ukraine planned to remarry, and Russia was not very happy, he did not allow Ukraine to remarry, so he felt that he suffered a loss when he divorced and separated. Russia believes that if Ukraine wants to remarry, it must pay another amount of compensation to Russia, otherwise you will not be able to get married.
At the beginning, the compensation was only paid to the Crimean peninsula, which was already very humiliating. After all, there are only two municipalities in Ukraine, one is the capital Kyiv, and the other is Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine has only one autonomous republic, that is, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and as a result, a municipality and an autonomous republic have all been taken away by Russia.
Because from Russia's point of view, Ukraine's remarriage has hurt him too much, so I have to get enough compensation, and Russia will put forward the conditions for the four eastern regions of Ukraine to return to Russia in 2022.
Why is it so difficult to get married? Is it because of the insatiable greed of the ex? If you cut it like this, the dowry for your remarriage will be cut off, so you can only fight back.
So the question is, why did Russia want the four prefectures of eastern Ukraine after it took Crimea? I think there are three main reasons.
- First, Russia intends to turn the four eastern regions of Ukraine into a buffer between itself and NATO. Because once Ukraine and NATO get married, it will naturally be a direct border between Russia and NATO, and Russia will not have any sense of security.
- Second, the four regions of eastern Ukraine are the northern barrier of Crimea. If Russia wants to return to the Black Sea, it must hold Crimea, and if it wants to hold Crimea, it is naturally indispensable to hold the four eastern regions of Ukraine.
- Third, the four regions of eastern Ukraine can connect the Russian mainland with Crimea. If Crimea wants to sit back and relax, it must receive direct supplies from the Russian mainland, preferably with the Russian mainland. The Crimean bridge has only a symbolic meaning, and the four regions of Ukraine can really achieve this purpose.
Therefore, in Russia's view, the four regions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea are the relationship between broken bones and tendons. It can be said that both glory and loss, when Russia took Crimea, it was already ready to take the four prefectures of eastern Ukraine into the bag. Of course, from 2014 to 2022, Russia has been giving Ukraine a chance, as long as Ukraine can change its mind and give up remarriage, maybe Russia will not be able to take the four states in eastern Ukraine.
Russia intends to re-set sail in the Black Sea
Whether it is the four prefectures of eastern Ukraine or Crimea, it is a tool of Russia. What kind of tool? Naturally, it is a tool to return to the Black Sea.
In the days of Tsarist Russia, since the possession of Crimea, there was a basis for conquering cities in the Black Sea. The entire Black Sea coast is the world where Tsarist Russia gallops.
Tsarist Russia established the Black Sea Fleet here, repeatedly touched Georgia on the east coast of the Black Sea, the Balkan Peninsula on the west coast of the Black Sea, and even attacked Constantinople many times, almost taking the entire Black Sea coast and becoming the hegemon of the Black Sea.
In order to restore the glory of the Tsarist era, Russia must expand its territory. Land represents resources and population, better geographical locations, and hope.
The Baltic region is too difficult to face, with Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark and the three Baltic states, many of which have joined NATO.
The mouth of the Heilongjiang River has been firmly in the hands of Tsarist Russia for more than 160 years, and they have nothing to worry about. But if you want to expand your territory in the Far East again, the difficulty coefficient is also very large, after all, the eastern powers have also become a strong opponent, at most from the eastern powers to cheat some money and spend, it is basically impossible to want territory in the short term.
Thus, the Black Sea became a hope for Russia to set sail again. The four prefectures of Crimea and Udong provide sufficient hardware conditions for their hope. Survive this hurdle, then they can return to the Black Sea and once again challenge for the throne of superpower.