Why Russia attacked Ukraine?

Question 1

primary strands in russian strategic culture

Answer 1

deap seated vulnerability - need for buffer zones, entitlement to great power status

Question 2

what leads to russian feeling of vulnerability

Answer 2

long borders, repeated past invasions, deep seated insecurity with the west, threats to pro-russian leaders in other states

Question 3

the russian entitlement to great power

Answer 3

topic present in putin and other kremlin elite’s speeches, russian elites believe if russia is not a great power it will cease to exist

Question 4

great power status and the sphere of influence

Answer 4

in russian eyes IR is a system dominated by few great powers having a sphere of influence, 1995 yeltsin declared russia wanted to establish a leading position in the post-soviet region

Question 5

why do russia pay special attention to ukraine

Answer 5

previous invasions from the west have come through ukraine, kievan rus is the historical epicentre of russian civilisation

Question 6

kortunov and lukyanov on ukraine

Answer 6

without strategic alliance with ukraine, russia will not become a great power - if ukraine with strong economy allies with it, russia is a force to be reckoned with

Question 7

russian fear about ukraine/eu alliance

Answer 7

accused kievs agreement with EU as extending EUs sphere of influence, feared that ukraines association with the EU may be a backdoor to NATO membership

Question 8

impact of annexation of crimea

Answer 8

russia gained control over region of ukraine with closest ties to russia, meant ukraine could not be part of NATO as it had an ongoing territorial conflict

Question 9

crimean annexation’s negative impact on Russia

Answer 9

led to US and european allies strengthening ties with ukraine, conflicted with russias aim to keep ukraine in sphere of influence and increased insecurity about the west

Question 10

russian strategic culture causation of overreactions

Answer 10

US built a tiny naval operations centre in Ochakiv, caused anger from russian elites and Putin spoke out against it directly

Question 11

Russian reaction to joint training between NATO and Ukraine

Answer 11

russian officials described it as a first order national security threat, putin suggested that this was for NATO to be able to fire missiles at russia quickly