The Ukraine-Russia crisis has been a source of contention for years. The conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea and escalated further with the war in eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a major player in the conflict, but his actions have been met with condemnation from other countries, notably the United States and the European Union.
Though Russian attempts to interfere and control the situation in Ukraine have been escalated recently, the conflict between the two countries is largely viewed as insoluble. This article will explore why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to resolve the crisis have been ineffective, and why Chinese President Xi Jinping’s involvement is insufficient in resolving the issue.
Background on the Ukraine-Russia Crisis
The tensions between Ukraine and Russia have been rising since the overthrow of the pro-Russian Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. This led to a referendum in the Crimean peninsula in which an overwhelming majority (over 97%) voted to join the Russian Federation.
In order to counteract rising aggression from Russia, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals, as well as freezing foreign financial assets. These actions crippled the Russian economy.
Since then, Russian attempts to destabilize the Ukrainian government have been seen across the Crimean peninsula and in eastern Ukraine. This has resulted in a low-level war in which approximately 13,000 people have been killed.
In 2019, President Putin announced the “cessation of hostilities” between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country. However, the ceasefire agreement has not been fully implemented, as fighting continues in the region.
Why Putin can’t solve Ukraine’s Problems
History of Russian Aggression
The first reason why Putin is incapable of solving the Ukraine crisis is due to his history of aggression towards the country. Despite promising to uphold the ideals of the Minsk Agreement, Russia has continued to interfere in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and has been accused of sending troops, weapons and equipment to supplement the separatists’ forces.
This comes as no surprise; since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin has frequently exhibited a disregard for international law when it comes to Ukraine. He has continued to destabilize the country and has only paid lip service to mollifying the conflict.
Political Connections
Another factor that has hindered Putin’s ability to successfully resolve the crisis is his poor political connections with the Ukrainian government. Relations between the two countries have been deteriorating since the annexation of Crimea, and tensions have been further exacerbated by the arrest and imprisonment of political opponents such as former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
This has resulted in a distrust of the Russian leader, as well as a more extreme response from the Ukrainian government to any potential Russian incursions. As a result, any attempts at a resolution have been met with derision and resentment.
Uncompromising Stance
Finally, the biggest impediment to Putin’s attempts to resolve the conflict has been his uncompromising stance towards any solution that would involve Ukraine regaining full control of its eastern provinces. Putin has refused to accept any ceasefire conditions that would allow Ukrainian forces to move freely throughout the region, and has instead sought to maintain effective control of the region by “freezing” it.
Furthermore, Putin has refused to accept responsibility for the war or recognize Ukraine’s claim over the eastern region. This has resulted in a stalemate, with neither side willing to back down and both sides seemingly unwilling to reach a peace deal.
Why Xi Jinping Can’t Solve Putin’s Ukraine Problem
Despite the involvement of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the conflict, his attempts to solve the crisis are unlikely to be successful. Here are some of the reasons why:
Geographic Distance
The first reason is the geographic distance between Russia and China. The two countries are thousands of miles apart and this gulf in distance makes it difficult, if not impossible, for Xi to effectively influence the situation in Ukraine.
Moreover, due to the need to transit goods and personnel through other countries, any attempt to supply aid to Ukraine would be met with potential political and logistical challenges.
Lack of Common Interests
Additionally, China and Russia lack common interests in Ukraine, making collaboration between the two countries cumbersome. Unlike Russia, China does not consider Ukraine to be within its sphere of influence, and thus has no vested interest in the conflict.
Moreover, the decisions made by both countries are often at odds with each other. For instance, while Russia is pushing for an independence referendum in the east of Ukraine, China has voiced its support for the Ukrainian government and its current territorial boundaries.
U.S.-EU Sanctions
Finally, U.S. and European Union sanctions against Russia have made collaboration between the two countries difficult. These sanctions, which were imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, have crippled the Russian economy and prevented cooperation between the two countries. As a result, any attempts at collaboration would repudiate the sanctions and risk economic harm.
The Ukraine-Russia crisis is one of the most intractable international conflicts in modern history. Though Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the main actors involved in the crisis, his attempts to resolve it have been largely unsuccessful due to his history of aggression, lack of political connections and uncompromising stance. Moreover, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s involvement is unlikely to lead to a successful resolution of the crisis due to geographic distance, lack of common interests and U.S.-EU sanctions. As such, the conflict remains unresolved, and is likely to continue until an agreement between the two sides is reached.
