Lately, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea for a third time since the peninsula’s illegal annexation. Ukrainian authorities responded to it with a statement by the head of state and the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In particular, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko called Putin’s visit to the Ukrainian Crimea, made without approval of the Ukrainian government, a challenge to the civilized world and yet another stage of an escalation scenario. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s note to Russia’s MFA demands that it “explain why President Vladimir Putin, head of the Russian government Dmitry Medvedev and other officials of the Russian Federation show open contempt for current legislation of Ukraine and international law, and stop the practice of such visits.”
Against this background, the West’s lack of response to the Russian president’s visit to illegally occupied Crimea looks rather strange. As the West does not officially recognize the annexation of Crimea, it would seem that this visit of the Russian leadership should have been yet another opportunity for the West to restate its position and accordingly show strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
The Day asked experts to comment on reasons for the West’s weak response to the recent visit of the top Russian leadership to the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Refat CHUBAROV, MP, chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis:
“The West is now predominantly taxed with the need to pay attention to eastern Ukraine, where a very critical situation is developing. I think all this is superimposed on one another. You see, they are getting used to our situation. Individual events, like Putin’s visit to illegally annexed Crimea, have stopped to be unusual. Still, this does not mean that Putin will get away scot-free over this visit. All this information is being selected and accumulated.
“It is just that against the background of a continuing impasse in the east of Ukraine, where troops concentrations are increasing along with tensions, Putin’s visit to Crimea garnered less attention. Still, we will see how all this will end. Putin will be there for two to three days.
“Meanwhile, that statement by Putin that the Kremlin will not allow human rights organizations that receive funding from abroad to destabilize the peninsula by exploiting Crimean Tatar issues, it targeted me personally, if you read between its lines.
“As I predicted before the visit, Putin did turn to Crimean Tatar issues. He tries to project a nice image. His henchmen brought to him Germans, Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Crimean Tatars, all singing praises to him. Thus, Putin wants to maintain his domestic base’s backing for him over his support of Crimea, and sends a clear message to the West: do not attack me over Crimea, and we will be able to make deals over anything else.
“When analyzing Putin’s words ‘Ukraine will be back on its feet and develop positively, building its future in cooperation with Russia,’ I repeat my previous assertion that it is Putin telling the West: ‘Yes, we will leave Ukraine, but on our terms, meaning no membership in the EU and NATO, and a union with Russia, make no mistake.’”
Andreas UMLAND, German political scientist:
“The West and Russia differ in their interpretation of the status of Crimea. The Westerners believe that Crimea does not belong to Russia. Therefore, there are sanctions and various restrictions on tourism and trade with Crimea imposed by the West. However, the West cannot stop Russian politicians from visiting or leaving Crimea.
“Thus, the latest visit of the Russian president to the illegally annexed Ukrainian peninsula has not prompted a strong response. After all, Putin and other representatives of the Russian state have already been to Crimea.
“According to the official position of Russia, Crimea is a part of that country, and they put much effort into confirming it. More importantly, all the social, educational, and social systems are being integrated into the Russian national structures. For example, they are now establishing the Crimean Federal University, which will be an amalgamation of various Crimean universities. This reorganization of Crimea to suit the Russian model is a more substantial assault on the sovereignty of Ukraine than some visits by senior representatives of the Russian state.
“As for Putin’s statement that Russia will not allow human rights groups that receive funding from abroad to destabilize the peninsula by exploiting Crimean Tatar issues, it fits into the overall picture of treatment of NGOs that receive foreign money in Russia proper. It is certainly additional evidence of disregard for civil rights in Crimea. This statement was probably made to prevent the Crimean Tatar Diaspora in Turkey coming with assistance to their Crimean brethren and block other human rights organizations aiming to work in Crimea.”
Vytis JURKONIS, expert at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius:
“Our foreign minister made a statement maintaining that the Russian president’s visit to Crimea and the escalation of separatist violence in the Donbas look like a concerted effort to undermine the Minsk Accords.
“As for the lack of statements from the EU bodies or the head of the EU Foreign Service, I think they will send some signals later. It should be borne in mind that August is the vacation month. However, I think that Western countries will not miss this occasion and some statements will be made. Indeed, the current situation makes everything happening in Ukraine a subject of special attention for the EU. It is understandable that Poland and Lithuania, which are closer to Ukraine, were the first to respond. Still, I am sure that the German government will do so as well.
“It is almost a year since the signing of the Minsk 1 Accords, but we see that there are more imitation and delays than honest efforts to implement them, amid ongoing destruction of eastern Ukraine in order to prevent the nation’s peaceful development.
“I have issues with more than the West’s actions as it tries to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Indeed, the West should be rather more decisive. We have seen it to take quite a principled stand lately, although there are still many discussions about whether we can show our principled approach in other ways, including via more stringent sanctions. But still, neither Germany nor Poland, nor any other European power, will resolve this issue without Ukraine’s own efforts.
“We see that civil society is very active in Ukraine and does a lot of work through volunteer activities. However, a major task falls squarely on the shoulders of the government of Ukraine, which has to carry out reforms and fight corruption. This should send a strong signal to eastern Ukraine, showing that despite the ongoing war, reforms and anti-corruption fight produce results and serve as an example of what can be achieved in eastern Ukraine under peaceful conditions.”
