The relationship between Ukraine and Russia is tense now, mainly because the pro-western policy of the Ukrainian government makes Russia dissatisfied, and Ukraine wants to join NATO, which further squeezes Russia's living space, so the relationship between Ukraine and Russia is tense in the current form! Last year, the Crimean War and the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine occurred, but Ukraine has no intention of withdrawing from the "CIS" so far.
The grievances between Russia and Ukraine after the disintegration of the Soviet Union:
(Tell the relationship between them in historical order)
Rome was not built in a day. If you understand the earlier grievances of Russia and Ukraine, you will feel reasonable about the development of the current situation.
1. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine, the two largest countries in the CIS, fought fiercely over the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, the greatest legacy left by the former alliance, mainly in the following three aspects:
First, there were different opinions on whether to continue to maintain the unified armed forces of the CIS. Russia advocates the establishment of a unified armed force of the Commonwealth of Independent States controlled by it, while Ukraine demands the establishment of its own independent army on the basis of the former Soviet troops stationed in its territory. The two sides had many disputes at the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In the end, Ukraine ignored Russia's opposition and insisted on formally deciding to establish an independent army with a total force of 42,-45, on January 31, 1992, thus realizing its long-cherished wish. Russia had to admit this fact, and then in May of the same year, it issued a document on the formation of its own armed forces, which made this disagreement go away.
the second is the ownership of the black sea fleet. Russia believes that the Black Sea Fleet is a strategic force and should be under the unified command of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and said that "this fleet has always been Russian and cannot be ceded to anyone", while Ukraine claimed that the main base of the Black Sea Fleet is in Ukraine, and the total investment of Ukraine in the former Soviet Navy is as high as 25%, while the Black Sea Fleet only accounts for 17% of it, so it should be owned by Ukraine. The views of the two sides are sharply opposed. Although many negotiations have been made and some agreements have been reached, they have not been really implemented, making this issue always an unsolved case.
thirdly, the issue of nuclear weapons in Uzbekistan. Russia proposes to transfer all nuclear weapons to Russia, and Russia is unilaterally responsible for security guarantees. Under pressure from all sides, Ukraine once agreed to ship nuclear weapons to Russia, but later it delayed for various reasons and has not yet handed them over. The differences between the two sides still exist.
2. We all know that "in Ukraine" in Russian is not "вукраине" but "наукраи". But now when expressing the meaning of "in Ukraine" in Russian, Ukrainians generally use вукраине. What is this? This is because the name Ukraine was neither the name of a nation nor the name of a country at first. It was the "border land" in the southwest of Gulos. In ancient Russian, Ukraine means "the place near the border" and "the place where the country borders". In fact, before the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Ukrainians always used the expression наукраине. However, since the disintegration, Ukraine and other countries joined by the former Soviet Union have changed from countries with relatively weak independence to countries with independent sovereignty in the true sense, and the people of the former countries have an unprecedented sense of national independence, which is reflected in their active demand for the due status of independent sovereign countries in all aspects, and Ukrainians are no exception. At the same time, this upsurge of national independence has also been reflected in the language. Therefore, Ukrainians are no longer willing to extend the наукраине before the disintegration.
2. Speaking of the feud between Russia and Ukraine, we have to turn over a thick history. Let's start with the first treaty signed between Ukraine and Russia more than 3 years ago-the Ukrainian Peleyaslav Treaty of 1654 ... According to the provisions of the treaty, Ukraine enjoys a high degree of autonomy after its alliance with Russia, but in fact it has not achieved the status of an independent country, and it has to pay taxes to the Tsar government. But in fact, more than that, after several years of war, Ukraine's economic and military strength could not match that of Russia, a powerful country in Eastern Europe at that time. The disparity in strength determines the inequality of Ukrainian-Russian relations and Russia's dominant position in Ukraine, and lays the development framework of Ukrainian-Russian relations. This unequal ethnic relationship has caused various contradictions, which has played a negative role in the development of Ukrainian-Russian relations so far.
3. As we all know, Ukraine and Russia are the two most important countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the relationship between Ukraine and Russia will have a great impact on the stability and future of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the strategic pattern of Europe. The relationship between Ukraine and Russia is very special. This particularity is the key to grasp the development of Ukrainian-Russian relations and determines the limits of cooperation and conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
In fact, from the founding of the Soviet Union in 1922 to the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the survival and development of Ukraine depended on the interests and needs of the Russian nation, the main ethnic group of the Soviet Union. It has been 3 years since Ukraine and Russia formed an alliance in 1954. Especially in the Soviet Union, the two peoples merged and influenced each other in many aspects, such as politics, economy and culture, and formed a deep and close relationship. This long-standing intertwined interest relationship will not stop because of the independence of the two peoples. For Ukraine, its political stability and economic development depend largely on Russia. Developing relations with Russia plays an important role in Ukraine's difficult process of consolidating national security and improving its political, economic and international status. In Russia's eyes, Ukraine is not only Russia's economic partner, but more importantly, the current situation of Ukrainian-Russian relations is directly related to Russia's strategic interests. The disintegration of the Soviet Union, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of the European regional security system formed after World War II. In the process of the formation of the new security structure in Europe, the whole Eastern Europe has been included in Russia's strategic interests, and Ukraine occupies an important position. Russia's lifeline of transportation passes through Ukraine (Russia's natural gas and oil pipelines exported to eastern and central European countries pass through Ukraine), and it also needs Ukraine to maintain Russia's presence in the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Transnistria and the Black Sea. If the relationship between Ukraine and Russia is maintained in a good state, Russia can maintain its influence in the above-mentioned areas more easily, otherwise, Russia's interests will be harmed.
4. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the comprehensive national strength of Ukraine and Russia is very different. In the CIS, Russia still occupies a central position, and it is in a leading position in economic reform, with a vast market and natural resources that other countries can't compete with, which has a decisive influence on the situation in the CIS, while Ukraine is at an obvious disadvantage. Worried that history will repeat itself, Russia is regarded as the main threat to Ukraine's national security. Former Ukrainian President kravchuk regarded Russia as a lion sleeping beside Ukraine, ready to swallow Ukraine. Therefore, Ukraine always guards against Russia, and Ukraine's suspicion and vigilance against Russia cast a heavy shadow on the development of Ukrainian-Russian relations.
On February 14th, 1992, Ukraine and Russia established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. The relationship between Ukraine and Russia has achieved a historic breakthrough. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia, the basic characteristics of the relations between the two countries are that they are sometimes tense and sometimes relaxed. In the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, historical grievances and interests and contradictions in reality are intertwined and complicated, and the problems of dividing the Black Sea Fleet, Crimea and destroying nuclear weapons were the three leading factors that mainly affected the development of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia.
5. In addition, the feud between Russia and Ukraine in recent years has gradually accumulated contradictions between the two countries. Russia stopped supplying natural gas to Ukraine on the grounds that Ukraine was in arrears, and then more and more factors were involved. At first, Russia accused Ukraine of intercepting natural gas destined for Europe privately, and then Russia stopped transmitting gas to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, so the gas stoppage storm quickly spread to Europe. When Europeans unscrewed the valve of the gas pipeline, they found that there was no natural gas that they were looking forward to, and it was "the gas didn't hit one place." After a wave of unrest, several waves broke out. Ukraine demanded that Russia provide 21 million cubic meters of natural gas free of charge every day on the grounds that it needed technical gas, and at the same time announced that the asking price of natural gas provided by Russia was unacceptable. Russia, on the other hand, demanded to recover the $1.1 billion lost by Gazprom in stopping gas trade with Europe due to Ukraine's obstruction.
As time goes by, the contradictions are getting deeper and deeper, and Russia is undoubtedly the biggest protagonist of this storm. On the surface, Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine because Ukraine failed to repay the $2 billion natural gas debt it owed. However, the discerning eye can see at a glance that the "bitter atmosphere" between Russia and Ukraine over the years has never been just a question of money, and there is a far-reaching political and economic background behind it.
6. As we all know, since the "color revolution" in Ukraine in 25, Ukraine has adopted a foreign policy of being pro-Western and alienating Russia, actively seeking to join the European Union, especially NATO, and forming a "GUAM Group" with other CIS countries to dig up the foundation of Russia. In the Russian-Georgian conflict, Ukraine actively supported Georgia's confrontation with Russia in political and military aspects. Among them, Ukraine's active application to join NATO is regarded by Russia as an unacceptable bottom line, which is a key step for the United States and the West to attempt to surround and squeeze Russia in geostrategy, so it is already expected that Russia will seize the opportunity to beat Ukraine. Due to objective reasons, Ukraine is highly dependent on Russia in energy, and this weakness has become a very convenient attack tool for Russia. Therefore, the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine is actually a two-pronged strategy of politics and economy. The purpose of Russia's two-pronged strategy is not just to warn Ukraine, but to achieve a variety of purposes.
First of all, of course, it is to remind Ukraine not to go too far on the road against Russia. Ukraine has no way to move. Russia has various ways to restrict Ukraine. Ukraine cannot be politically unfavorable to Russia, but on the other hand, it must enjoy the benefits of convenient and cheap energy from Russia. Secondly, through the "grudge" with Ukraine, Russia also intends to prove to the EU that if Russia is angry, the consequences will be very serious.
7. Let's turn our attention to the heart disease of Ukraine and Russia in those years, that is, the division of the Black Sea fleet, the Crimea issue and the destruction of nuclear weapons. Let's start with the Black Sea Fleet.
The Black Sea Fleet was founded in 1783 by a famous empress in Russian history, Catherine II. How awesome is this fleet? Let's just say that it is a historical witness of the development of the Russian navy and a glory and pride of Russia. When the Soviet Union was liberated, the Black Sea Fleet had 97, officers and men, 45 large surface ships, including aircraft carriers (Kuznetsov), helicopter carriers (Moscow and St. Petersburg), 1 destroyers, 3 frigates, 1 cruise ships and coastal frigates, 6 minesweepers intercepted, 5 landing ships, 5 rescue ships, 28 submarines, and more than fighters and helicopters. The Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet is equipped with 36 cars. There are 126 motorized divisions stationed in Simferopol, equipped with 27 tanks, 3 armored vehicles and 3 infantry vehicles. The total value of warships of the Black Sea Fleet is $7.45 billion. This fleet is the only one in the CIS region that is not frozen in winter. The most important parts of the coastal facilities of the Black Sea Fleet are concentrated in Ukraine, mainly in Crimea. There are four ports in Sevastopol, which can dock warships of any level. This was definitely a leader in maritime power at that time.
Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia always controlled the Black Sea region with the help of the Black Sea Fleet. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's geopolitical position in the Black Sea region has changed. The Black Sea Fleet is no longer a factor to ensure the stability of the region, but has become a bargaining chip in the political struggle. However, the Black Sea region is still of great significance to Russia. First of all, whether to control the Black Sea region is related to the national security of Russia's southern border. In addition, the Black Sea is an area where Russia's economic interests are concentrated, and it is the only water passage for Russia to the Mediterranean and Pacific regions. We can see the importance of the Black Sea and the Black Sea Fleet to Russia from the following passage: "If we continue not to provide financial and material guarantees such as funds, spare parts, fuel and personnel to the fleet, then our naval strength in the Baltic Sea will lag behind Sweden and Germany before 2, and it will lag far behind Turkey in the Black Sea region. If Russia does not have naval power in the region, then Russia's geopolitical status will regress to 2-3 years ago. "
under such circumstances, the division of the Black Sea Fleet involves not only property issues, but also national sovereignty and national security interests, which is very difficult. In Russia's view, losing the Black Sea Fleet means losing control of the Black Sea region. In Ukraine's view, the presence of the Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine also means the loss of sovereignty. On the issue of dividing the Black Sea Fleet, Russia should maintain its presence in the Black Sea region, while Ukraine should weaken Russia's influence in this region to safeguard its own security. Therefore, the ownership of the Black Sea Fleet has become an extremely sensitive issue in the political life of Ukraine and Russia. Later, the leaders of the two sides communicated many times and the progress has not been smooth. Until May 28, 1997, when Russian Prime Minister Viktor chernomyrdin visited Ukraine, the prime ministers of Ukraine and Russia finally signed relevant documents, and the two sides reached an understanding on the following issues: Russia confirmed that Crimea and Sevastopol were Ukrainian territories, and Russia agreed to lease Sevastopol (for a period of 2 years) for the Russian Black Sea fleet to berth. Sevastopol is no longer the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, but the main fleet base of the Ukrainian Navy.
At this time, the coastal defense system of the Black Sea Fleet was 1% destroyed, 7% of the command system was destroyed, 72% of the logistics support and technical maintenance systems were paralyzed, and all the reconnaissance systems were destroyed. Even the remaining forces were in trouble to form a tactical unit, let alone a strategic strike team. Even if this fragmented and nearly paralyzed fleet exists, it exists in name only.
8. With regard to the Crimea issue, the Crimean Peninsula is the only autonomous Republic in Ukraine. It is located at the southernmost tip of Ukraine, bordering the Black Sea in the south and the Sea of Azov in the east, and has no land connection with Russia. It covers an area of about 27, square kilometers, and most of them are Russians (in Sevastopol, the Russian population accounts for 2/)