Trump’s Crimea Proposal Raises Global Fears Over Territorial Integrity

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 11)

Analysis of the news:         

Strategic Importance of Crimea

• Crimea’s significance lies in its geography. It offers Russia access to the Black Sea and, through the Bosphorus, to the Mediterranean — a centuries-long strategic ambition due to Russia’s lack of warm-water ports.
• The deep-sea port of Sevastopol is central to Russia’s naval capabilities, making Crimea vital to Moscow’s military posture.

Backdrop of the 2014 Annexation

• Russia annexed Crimea after the ouster of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
• The move was aimed at preventing Ukraine’s tilt towards NATO and safeguarding Russia’s naval assets in Sevastopol.
• The annexation was swift and strategically preemptive, reflecting Moscow’s security anxieties.

Water Security as a Strategic Driver

• Crimea is water-scarce, and its dependence on the North Crimean Canal—controlled by Ukraine—became a vulnerability after 2014.
• Post-invasion in 2022, Russia demolished a Ukrainian dam to restore water flow, underlining how control over water infrastructure shaped its territorial ambitions, especially in the Kherson region.

Geopolitical Risks of Formal Recognition

• Accepting Crimea’s annexation could embolden other authoritarian regimes, particularly China regarding Taiwan.
• Experts warn it may encourage land grabs globally and signal a retreat from the principle of territorial integrity — a cornerstone of post-WWII international order.

Ukraine’s Stance

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any peace deal that involves territorial concessions.
• Ukraine views such a proposal as unconstitutional and existentially dangerous, fearing it could invite further Russian aggression once Moscow regroups.