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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions — and Kremlin talking points
Following the second round of direct peace talks with Ukraine, the Russian side leaked its proposal on how to end its war — effectively a demand for Ukraine's surrender. Yet, if the intentions of the Kremlin are no secret — continue the war until a political or military victory — getting information on what people in Russia think of their country's war and the prospects for peace is a more complicated endeavor. While those based in Russia interviewed by the Kyiv Independent share a desire for peace, they are no supporters of Ukraine and its sovereignty. Despite speaking on condition of anonymity and with the ability to freely express their views, Russians inside the country spoke along the official Russian lines — accusing Ukraine of stalling the negotiations or even arguing that there will be no peace as long as Ukraine remains an independent country. These views are in line with polls conducted in Russia, which some believe are untrustworthy. Around 64% of the respondents in Russia favored peace talks, according to a poll by the independent Russian pollster Levada Center published on June 2. However, a majority of respondents (73%) believe that Ukraine should make concessions prior to a ceasefire. Only 18% think that Moscow should agree to a ceasefire and then resolve all other issues. Read also: 5 Ukrainian regions, ban on NATO, limits on Kyiv's army — Russian media publishes Moscow's official peace demands The Kyiv Independent interviewed people with different backgrounds and views, including those who have a track record of being opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. One of them, a 40-year-old photographer, used to attend rallies against Putin. Yet the photographer's past opposition to Putin did not make her a supporter of Ukraine, nor did it mean she acknowledged her country's faults. In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent, the photographer expressed nostalgia for the Soviet Union and said that she believes there will be no peace until former Soviet republics are reunited under the Kremlin's wing. "Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus would unite into one country," she said. "And then there would be no more problems. And all the foreign agents would get kicked out." She also argued that "recognizing all the (occupied) territories as part of Russia is a done deal." Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. The Kremlin also announced the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022 despite only partially controlling them. According to a document leaked after the second round of talks with Ukraine, Russia is demanding the official recognition of all these annexations. Additional demands include Ukraine's neutral status, a ban on the country's NATO bid and other possible military alliances, and an official end to Western arms supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. According to a source in the Ukrainian President's Office, the Russian delegation effectively showed it doesn't want a peace settlement and is simply buying time to prolong the war. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Kyiv would not recognize any of the occupied territories as Russian. Read also: Who is Vladimir Medinsky? The Putin aide leading Russia's delegation at Ukraine peace talks Unlike the photographer, a Russian official who previously worked with Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation during the Istanbul talks, was more ambivalent. He opposed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but has grown more skeptical of Kyiv's position since then and accused Ukraine of stalling the negotiations. The official shared his personal opinion. He is not connected to the actual talks. He told the Kyiv Independent that "any negotiations are a good thing." "It's a step forward," he said. "It's better than a demonstrative refusal to negotiate. I agree with (U.S. President Donald) Trump that people shouldn't be dying. Enough already." He argued, however, that an unconditional ceasefire is currently "technically and politically impossible" because it would be to "Ukraine's advantage." He accused Ukraine of disrupting the talks, saying that it had not sent a proper negotiating team to Istanbul. Ukraine has sent a delegation headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul, while Russia has sent a low-level delegation headed by Medinsky. The official claimed that Ukraine "got carried away and deceived itself with their own propaganda" and "put too much faith in their (Western) partners," the points often mentioned by Russian state TV. Putin did not attend the Istanbul peace talks despite an invitation from Zelensky to meet him face-to-face. Ukrainian and Western observers have argued that Russia is disrupting the peace negotiations. The official, who used to work with Medinsky in a field unrelated to negotiations, went on to praise him as a manager and negotiator. Read also: As Russia refuses to accept ceasefire, will Trump pressure Moscow? An IT specialist living in Russia offered a third perspective, blaming neither Moscow nor Kyiv for the war. "My attitude toward political events is similar to how I view developments on financial markets... or even like the weather," he told the Kyiv Independent. "In my worldview, what happens in all these spheres is the result of a sufficiently large number of actors and factors... rather than the result of malice, stupidity, or genius on the part of specific individuals." He said he would be calm about any outcome of the peace talks. The IT professional told the Kyiv Independent, however, that the war had had a negative impact on his life from a practical standpoint: salaries in the IT sector have dropped, there are fewer job opportunities, and there are major difficulties with accepting payments from abroad. He also said that financially he can afford not to work but has to have a permanent job to defer potential mobilization. "But in my view, neither peace nor a ceasefire in Ukraine would actually resolve any of the above problems," he said. "Once this episode of the confrontation ends, another one will just begin." He added that "the key indicator of readiness to end the confrontation is the willingness of all parties to agree on the legal status of the disputed territories." "We're nowhere near that," he continued. Read also: 'There we go again' — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to 'wake up' In contrast with those based in Russia, Russian political exiles living abroad put the blame squarely on Putin, although they did not blame the Russian people in general for continuing to wage it. "(Putin is) continuing the war while dragging out these endless negotiations — talks about talks, meetings for the sake of more meetings — hiding everything behind vague, meaningless language, all while keeping the war going," Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza told the Kyiv Independent. Kara-Murza survived poisoning attempts by Russia's Federal Security Service in 2015 and 2021, according to Bellingcat, Der Spiegel, and The Insider. He was jailed in Russia in 2023 for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and released and sent abroad in 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange with the West. Kara-Murza also said that "Putin is playing Trump brilliantly — because if you just listen to the tone of Trump's statement, it was filled with admiration and enthusiasm after a conversation that, once again, was absolutely meaningless in substance." He was referring to Trump's statement after a phone call with Putin on May 19, during which the Russian president again rejected an unconditional ceasefire. Trump said the call "went very well" and once again refused to impose sanctions against Russia. Kara-Murza argued that Trump and Putin get along because "they have the same kind of authoritarian mindset, they share the same psychological profile." "I think Trump really wanted to rule the way Putin does — without checks and balances, without a parliament, without opposition, without an independent press," he added. "Even people who were present at their meetings during his first term have said that Trump, in Putin's presence, was like a rabbit staring at a boa constrictor. So I think Trump genuinely admires Putin — personally and sincerely — and wants to be like him." Kara-Murza is skeptical about the prospects for peace under Putin. "I'm convinced that no lasting, long-term — let alone just — peace can exist or will exist as long as Putin's regime remains in power," Kara-Murza said. He said that "the only real way to stop this war is a democratic Russia." "Only when Russia has a normal, legitimate, freely elected government that respects its own laws and the rights of its own citizens will it begin to respect civilized norms of international behavior and return to its internationally recognized borders," Kara-Murza added. In contrast with Kara-Murza, Russians inside the country who spoke on condition of anonymity were more ambivalent about Putin's role, often blaming Ukraine or both sides. At the same time, Kara-Murza does not extend the blame for the war to Russia as a whole. In 2024, he criticized the sanctions imposed against Russia, saying that only individual sanctions against Putin's inner circle were appropriate. Read also: 'Conditions for Ukraine's surrender' — Why Putin's demands for ceasefire make no sense Another Russian opposition figure, former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, is on the far end of the spectrum — he is one of the few Russians who unequivocally support sanctions against Russia and call for Ukraine's victory. He told the Kyiv Independent that "Putin wants to use negotiations to buy time, to normalize his status as a legitimate leader instead of an invading war criminal, and to distract and sideline Ukraine's allies from taking stronger action against Russia." "Putin's impossible demands have not changed," he added. "He's not offering any concessions, and Trump isn't asking Russia to make any. Despite Putin ignoring European and American deadlines for a ceasefire, the only pressure Trump applies is against Ukraine." Kasparov also said that "until there is real pressure via military aid to Ukraine and crippling sanctions on Russia… Putin will have no interest in ending the war." "As I have said from the start, the only real peace is Ukrainian victory," he added. Kasparov said that Trump "is working together with Putin to pressure Ukraine into surrendering so he can claim to be a peacemaker." "Trump gave a deadline (for a ceasefire), Putin ignored it," he added. "In their phone call, Putin spouted a bunch of garbage about plans and frameworks, and Trump just said it was all fine." Read also: Can Russia sustain its war effort as ruble plummets, inflation soars? Arkady Moshes, a Russian-born researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, argued that "there is nothing to talk about" as far as Russian-Ukrainian talks are concerned. "(Russia) is playing for time," he said. "They only agreed to imitate their participation in the negotiations because America wanted it. They want to give Trump a chance to say to his audience that he has already brokered something." He also said that Putin "is interested in continuing the warfare." "He's still driven by the thinking that Russia has material advantages over Ukraine," Moshes added. "So Putin still plays for victory and not a draw." He said Russia's maximalist demands and unwillingness to compromise show that it is not interested in peace. "This is the plan, that you come to the talks, put forward maximalist demands, and then blame the other side for not agreeing," Moshes added. After deadly Russian missile and drone attacks in May, Trump expressed strong disapproval of the latest escalation. "I'm not happy with Putin," he told reporters on May 25, adding on Truth Social that the Russian president has gone "absolutely" crazy. So Trump "faced the wall" and "had to make choices" — either to impose sanctions on Russia or not, Moshes said. But instead of actually imposing sanctions, Trump just threatened to do so without taking any action, he added. "Putin is not afraid of these kinds of threats," Moshes said. "He would be afraid of sanctions, but not of threat of sanctions." Read also: 'Trump doesn't know how to deal with gangsters' — US lets Ukraine down, once again We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Record number of Russians support peace talks, end of war in Ukraine, poll shows
The number of Russian citizens who support peace talks and an end to the war in Ukraine has reached a record high since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to a poll by the independent Russian pollster Levada Center published on June 2. Some 64% of the respondents favored peace talks, representing a 6% increase since March. Meanwhile, the number of people who supported the war's continuation decreased from 34% in March to 28% in May. Compared to previous survey results, in May 2023, 48% of respondents believed that the war should continue. In May 2024, this figure dropped to 43%. The news comes after the second round of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia occurred in Istanbul. The parties agreed on a new prisoner exchange, as well as the repatriation of 6,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. No agreement on a ceasefire was reached. The share of supporters of peaceful negotiations is higher among women (73%), people under 24 (77%), residents of villages and towns with populations under 100,000 (67% each), as well as those who believe that the country is going in the wrong direction (76%) and those who disapprove of Russian President Vladimir Putin's presidential performance (77%). The share of those who support continuing the war is higher among men (39%), respondents aged 55 and older (35%), residents of Moscow (40%), those who believe that things in the country are going in the right direction (32%), and those who approve of the activities of the current president (30%). A majority of respondents (73%) believe that Russia and Ukraine should address the hostilities' root causes and only then agree on a ceasefire. On the contrary, some 18% think that the parties will first reach a truce and ceasefire and then resolve all other issues. Only 3% of Russians believe Russia is an obstacle to peace. At the same time, 14% of respondents believe that the U.S. is to blame, while 36% each see Ukraine and European countries as major obstacles in peace negotiations. The center conducted the survey from May 22 to 28, involving 1,613 people aged 18 and older in 50 regions of Russia. Read also: Growing up under missiles — Ukrainian childhoods shaped by war (Photos) We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Mainichi
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan, West face test as Putin warps WWII history to justify Ukraine invasion
It is unacceptable to conveniently reinterpret World War II history and attempt to justify a war of aggression. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union, together with the United States, Britain, France and other allies, defeating Nazi Germany, which sought to conquer the whole of Europe. Among the Allies, the Soviet Union incurred the worst losses, suffering more than 27 million deaths. Addressing the Victory Day ceremony on May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted, "Truth and justice are on our side. Russia will always remain an 'unbreakable wall' against Nazism." By likening Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration to Nazis, Putin demonstrated his determination to continue his war against Ukraine. The significance of Victory Day has shifted over time. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, socialist ideology, previously used to unite the nation, lost its relevance. Amid this ideological void, the historical victory over Nazi Germany emerged as a critical means to unify citizens and foster nationalism. Antiwar sentiment fails to gain momentum During Russia's time as a Group of Eight (G8) member, Victory Day celebrations attracted global leaders. In the 2005 commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the war's end in Europe, Putin called for collaboration with the West, speaking of "establishing mutual relationships aimed at our common future." Leaders from Western nations and Japan attended the ceremonies that year. In sharp contrast, at this year's ceremony no leaders from nations spearheading support for Ukraine were present. Even when Russia's relations with the West appeared favorable, Putin displayed distorted historical perspectives. In his annual address to parliament in 2005, Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Union "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century" and emphasized the protection of Russian-speaking communities in neighboring former Soviet republics. This observation reflected his regret over those countries distancing themselves from Russia's sphere of influence. Such rhetoric subsequently gave rise to Russia's annexation of southern Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, culminating in today's ongoing war. After more than three years of war in Ukraine, Russian military deaths are estimated to exceed 100,000. With defense spending now accounting for about 30% of Russia's total expenditure, the conflict is imposing severe economic pressures. Under such grim circumstances, rising antiwar sentiment among Russians would seem likely. However, independent Russian pollster Levada Center reports Putin's invasion consistently commands above 70% support. A significant reason is Russia's relatively stable economy. Boosted by arms production, Russia's wartime economy grew by 4.1% in 2024. With working-age people increasingly serving in the military, resulting in labor shortages, wages for workers have increased as well. Moreover, while the Putin administration has shut down critical media outlets one after another, government propaganda -- primarily relayed through state-controlled TV -- shapes public opinion to the Kremlin's advantage. Deep-seated mistrust toward the West persists among the Russian populace. Following the collapse of the USSR, Russia's global standing diminished sharply, and its economy deteriorated. Many Russians view the humiliation experienced in that period as stemming from "a Western conspiracy" intended to weaken their country. Regarding the Ukraine war, some believe the United States is again trying to stifle Russia, this time using Kyiv. Western unity put to the test Putin's invasion of Ukraine openly tramples the international order founded upon the rule of law. The global community must compel Russia into accepting a ceasefire and chart a clear path toward long-term peace. Nonetheless, U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office this past January, makes no effort to disguise his pro-Russian stance. Trump has even put forward a peace proposal that includes lifting sanctions against Russia. Western countries have so far targeted Russian crude oil exports by imposing a price cap. While countries such as China and India continue to buy significant amounts of Russian crude, decreased prices have put Russia's oil export revenue on a downward trend. Regarding the effectiveness of current sanctions, a Japanese energy industry insider explained, "While these sanctions haven't entirely weakened Russia's ability to maintain the war, they have succeeded in significantly damaging the Russian economy." To halt Russian aggression, Western nations must keep those sanctions in place. European Union member states have suffered from soaring resource prices, prompting talk of possibly waning enthusiasm for continued support for Ukraine. Despite the burden, the EU has announced a road map to phase out Russian natural gas imports entirely by the end of 2027, reflecting their commitment to break its energy dependence on Moscow. Japan must align itself closely with Europe while conducting diplomacy on its own initiative. Even if the United States moves toward lifting sanctions against Russia, Japan should not blindly follow suit. We must not allow a world dominated by major powers strong-arming smaller nations into submission -- a world driven solely by "survival of the fittest." Western unity faces a critical test in this moment.
The Hill
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Crimea is a focus of discussions to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Here's why it's so coveted
Russia's illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine 11 years ago was quick and bloodless. But Kyiv — and most of the world — never recognized Moscow's annexation of the strategic peninsula, which is now a major focus of U.S.-led efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukraine's president Wednesday, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the 'killing field' after he insisted he would not give up any Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, to Russia as part of a potential peace plan. 'There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,' he said. Trump called Zelenskyy's pushback 'very harmful' to talks. 'Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?' he wrote on social media. During Trump's first term, the U.S. said it would never recognize Crimea as Russian. How did Russia seize Crimea? In 2013-14, a massive popular uprising gripped Ukraine for weeks, eventually forcing pro-Moscow President Victor Yanukovich from office. With Ukraine engulfed in turmoil, Russian President Vladimir Putin pounced, sending troops to overrun Crimea, a diamond-shaped peninsula in the Black Sea that Russia has long coveted. The armed troops appeared in Crimea in uniforms without insignia, and Putin soon called a vote on joining Russia that Ukraine and the West dismissed as illegal. Russia's relations with the West plummeted to new lows. The United States, the European Union and other countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and its officials. Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea on March 18, 2014, was only recognized internationally by countries such as North Korea and Sudan. In Russia, it touched off a wave of patriotism, and 'Krym nash!' — 'Crimea is ours!' — became a rallying cry. The move sent Putin's popularity soaring. His approval rating, which had declined to 65% in January 2014, shot to 86% in June, according to the Levada Center, an independent Russian pollster. Putin has called Crimea 'a sacred place,' and has prosecuted those who publicly argue it is part of Ukraine — particularly Crimean Tatars, who strongly opposed the annexation. What happened after the annexation? Weeks after the annexation, fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin militias and Kyiv's forces. Moscow threw its weight behind the insurgents, even though the Kremlin denied supporting them with troops and weapons. There was abundant evidence to the contrary, including a Dutch court's finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that year, arguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles. The fighting in eastern Ukraine continued, on and off, until February 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Why is Crimea important? Crimea's unique location makes it a strategically important asset, and Russia has spent centuries fighting for it. The peninsula was home to Turkic-speaking Tatars when the Russian empire first annexed it in the 18th century. It briefly regained independence two centuries later before being swallowed by the Soviet Union. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine in 1954, when both were part of the USSR, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the unification of Moscow and Kyiv. In 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the peninsula became part of newly independent Ukraine. Russia kept a foot in the door, however: Its Black Sea Fleet had a base in the city of Sevastopol, and Crimea — as part of Ukraine — continued to host it. By the time Russia annexed it in 2014, it had been a part of Ukraine for 60 years and had become part of the country's identity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to retake it and said that Russia 'won't be able to steal' the peninsula. For either side, possession of Crimea is key to control over activities in the Black Sea — a critical corridor for the world's grain, among other goods. What role does Crimea play in Russia's war in Ukraine? Ahead of its full-scale invasion, Moscow deployed troops and weapons to Crimea, allowing Russian forces to quickly seize large parts of southern Ukraine in the first weeks of the war. A top Russian military official later said that securing a land corridor from Russia to Crimea by holding the occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions was among the key goals of what the Kremlin insisted on calling its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Before the invasion, Zelenskyy focused on diplomatic efforts to get Crimea back, but after Russian troops poured across the border, Kyiv started publicly contemplating retaking the peninsula by force. The peninsula soon became a battleground, with Ukraine launching drone attacks and bombing it to try to dislodge Moscow's hold on the territory. The attacks targeted the Russian Black Sea Fleet there, as well as ammunition depots, air fields and Putin's prized asset — the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to Russia, which was struck in October 2022 and again in July 2023. How does Crimea factor into peace efforts? U.S. Vice President JD Vance said this week that Washington 'issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it's time for them to either say 'yes' or for the United States to walk away from this process.' He told reporters during a visit to India that it was 'a very fair proposal' that would 'freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,' though both sides would have to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide details. While Trump said that 'nobody' is asking Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, it's not clear whether the U.S. proposal would see Washington recognize it as such — in what would be a reversal of years of its own foreign policy. In 2017, Trump's then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared at a meeting also attended by Russia's top diplomat: 'We will never accept Russia's occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea.' The following year, his successor, Mike Pompeo, reiterated that the U.S. rejected the attempted annexation. Zelenskyy on Wednesday pointed out Pompeo's statement in a post on X, adding: 'We are absolutely sure that our partners in particular the USA will act in line with its strong decisions.' Putin, however, listed Ukraine's recognition of Crimea as part of Russia among Moscow's demands for peace in June 2024. Those also include Ukraine ceding four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, dropping its bid to join NATO, keeping the country's nonnuclear status, restricting its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population. Kyiv has rejected ceding territory as a nonstarter. Russia currently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian land, including Crimea, so any deal that freezes the lines more or less where they are would benefit Moscow. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Crimea is a focus of discussions to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Here's why it's so coveted
Russia's illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine 11 years ago was quick and bloodless. But Kyiv — and most of the world — never recognized Moscow's annexation of the strategic peninsula, which is now a major focus of U.S.-led efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukraine's president Wednesday, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the 'killing field' after he insisted he would not give up any Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, to Russia as part of a potential peace plan. 'There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,' he said. Trump called Zelenskyy's pushback 'very harmful' to talks. 'Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?' he wrote on social media. During Trump's first term, the U.S. said it would never recognize Crimea as Russian. How did Russia seize Crimea? In 2013-14, a massive popular uprising gripped Ukraine for weeks, eventually forcing pro-Moscow President Victor Yanukovich from office. With Ukraine engulfed in turmoil, Russian President Vladimir Putin pounced, sending troops to overrun Crimea, a diamond-shaped peninsula in the Black Sea that Russia has long coveted. The armed troops appeared in Crimea in uniforms without insignia, and Putin soon called a vote on joining Russia that Ukraine and the West dismissed as illegal. Russia's relations with the West plummeted to new lows. The United States, the European Union and other countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and its officials. Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea on March 18, 2014, was only recognized internationally by countries such as North Korea and Sudan. In Russia, it touched off a wave of patriotism, and 'Krym nash!' — 'Crimea is ours!' — became a rallying cry. The move sent Putin's popularity soaring. His approval rating, which had declined to 65% in January 2014, shot to 86% in June, according to the Levada Center, an independent Russian pollster. Putin has called Crimea 'a sacred place,' and has prosecuted those who publicly argue it is part of Ukraine — particularly Crimean Tatars, who strongly opposed the annexation. What happened after the annexation? Weeks after the annexation, fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin militias and Kyiv's forces. Moscow threw its weight behind the insurgents, even though the Kremlin denied supporting them with troops and weapons. There was abundant evidence to the contrary, including a Dutch court's finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that year, arguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles. The fighting in eastern Ukraine continued, on and off, until February 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Why is Crimea important? Crimea's unique location makes it a strategically important asset, and Russia has spent centuries fighting for it. The peninsula was home to Turkic-speaking Tatars when the Russian empire first annexed it in the 18th century. It briefly regained independence two centuries later before being swallowed by the Soviet Union. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine in 1954, when both were part of the USSR, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the unification of Moscow and Kyiv. In 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the peninsula became part of newly independent Ukraine. Russia kept a foot in the door, however: Its Black Sea Fleet had a base in the city of Sevastopol, and Crimea — as part of Ukraine — continued to host it. By the time Russia annexed it in 2014, it had been a part of Ukraine for 60 years and had become part of the country's identity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to retake it and said that Russia 'won't be able to steal' the peninsula. For either side, possession of Crimea is key to control over activities in the Black Sea — a critical corridor for the world's grain, among other goods. What role does Crimea play in Russia's war in Ukraine? Ahead of its full-scale invasion, Moscow deployed troops and weapons to Crimea, allowing Russian forces to quickly seize large parts of southern Ukraine in the first weeks of the war. A top Russian military official later said that securing a land corridor from Russia to Crimea by holding the occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions was among the key goals of what the Kremlin insisted on calling its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Before the invasion, Zelenskyy focused on diplomatic efforts to get Crimea back, but after Russian troops poured across the border, Kyiv started publicly contemplating retaking the peninsula by force. The peninsula soon became a battleground, with Ukraine launching drone attacks and bombing it to try to dislodge Moscow's hold on the territory. The attacks targeted the Russian Black Sea Fleet there, as well as ammunition depots, air fields and Putin's prized asset — the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to Russia, which was struck in October 2022 and again in July 2023. How does Crimea factor into peace efforts? U.S. Vice President JD Vance said this week that Washington 'issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it's time for them to either say 'yes' or for the United States to walk away from this process.' He told reporters during a visit to India that it was 'a very fair proposal' that would 'freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,' though both sides would have to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide details. While Trump said that 'nobody' is asking Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, it's not clear whether the U.S. proposal would see Washington recognize it as such — in what would be a reversal of years of its own foreign policy. In 2017, Trump's then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared at a meeting also attended by Russia's top diplomat: 'We will never accept Russia's occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea.' The following year, his successor, Mike Pompeo, reiterated that the U.S. rejected the attempted annexation. Zelenskyy on Wednesday pointed out Pompeo's statement in a post on X, adding: 'We are absolutely sure that our partners in particular the USA will act in line with its strong decisions.' During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Putin, however, listed Ukraine's recognition of Crimea as part of Russia among Moscow's demands for peace in June 2024. Those also include Ukraine ceding four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, dropping its bid to join NATO, keeping the country's nonnuclear status, restricting its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population. Kyiv has rejected ceding territory as a nonstarter. Russia currently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian land, including Crimea, so any deal that freezes the lines more or less where they are would benefit Moscow. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at
