The Crimean crisis holds warnings of the reemergence of the Cold War. Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken legislative steps to absorb Crimea into Russia. He says that Crimea is Russian in people’s hearts. The decision was preceded by a referendum in Crimea which was overwhelmingly in favour of its independence from Ukraine. Kiev and the West have rejected the referendum as anticipated. The US and EU have imposed sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freeze. The situation reminds one of what happened in Kosovo in 2008. But a bigger and more ominous question overhangs the crisis. Moscow and Kiev are mobilizing military force and that leads to the feeling that an armed confrontation may be in sight. On the other hand, Putin will be content to take control of Crimea and help forces in eastern and southern Ukraine where ethnic Russians dislike the nationalist western pro-EU elements. Russia is not seeking a standoff with the West and wants to prevent emergence of a unified anti-Russia Ukraine within the NATO fold. But some western leaders are asking for tougher sanctions against Russia. Even, Russia’s expulsion from G-8 is contemplated.
The development in Crimea suggests that the Putin regime wants to assert itself and cripple pro-West anti-authoritarian forces in the country. Russia vetoing the Security Council resolution for intervention in Syria presaged this trend in Moscow. Putin aspires to be the strong man in Russia and there are hints of a revival of the old empire. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has thanked Putin for explaining the Russian position with regard to recent developments in Ukraine and Russia has expressed appreciation of India’s objectivity.