Abstract
In February 2014, Russia invaded Crimea, Ukraine. Two weeks later it annexed the region. This gross violation of international laws and agreements cannot be tolerated—and it is up to the international community to deliver a decisive, punitive response that seeks to limit Russian influence in Europe and the rest of the world over time. In order to counter Russian expansionism, US and European leaders must work to bolster the democracies of the Eastern Partnership states, develop a safe and secure energy supply for European countries, strengthen the defences of the front-line NATO states of Central and Eastern Europe, and re-evaluate the exchange of goods between Europe and Russia. In addition, international support for the new Ukrainian government will be essential in the coming years. Failure to deliver an appropriate response will have grave consequences for the future world order.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bremmer, I. (2014). A tortured policy toward Russia. The New York Times, 27 March. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/opinion/a-tortured-policy-toward-russia.html?ref=opinion&_r=0. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Burwell, F. G. (2014). Hitting Russia’s economy: What Obama and EU must do Wednesday in Brussels. The Atlantic Council, 24 March. http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/hitting-russia-s-economy-what-obama-and-eu-must-do-wednesday-in-brussels. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Diamond, L. (2008). The democratic rollback. Foreign Affairs, 87(2), 36–48. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63218/larry-diamond/the-democratic-rollback. Accessed 24 April 2014.
Harding, R. (2014). IMF pledges $14bn–$18bn rescue package for Ukraine. Financial Times, 27 March. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/737e3bd8-b587-11e3-81cb-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2xMyLeIAp. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Herszenhorn, D. M. (2014). Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine as Russian troops keep watch. The New York Times, 16 March. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/crimea-ukraine-secession-vote-referendum.html. Accessed 14 April 2014.
International Republican Institute. (2013). Public opinion survey residents of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 16–30 May. http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2013%20October%207%20Survey%20of%20Crimean%20Public%20Opinion,%20May%2016-30,%202013.pdf. Accessed 22 April 2014.
International Republican Institute. (2014). Public opinion survey residents Ukraine, 14–26 March. http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2014%20April%205%20IRI%20Public%20Opinion%20Survey%20of%20Ukraine,%20March%2014-26,%202014.pdf. Accessed 22 April 2014.
Lucas, E., & Wess Mitchell, A. (2014). Central European security after Crimea: The case for strengthening NATO’s eastern defenses. Center for European Policy Analysis Report no. 35. Washington, DC.
McFaul, M. A. (2014). Confronting Putin’s Russia. The New York Times, 23 March. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/opinion/confronting-putins-russia.html. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Mufson, S. (2014). Can US natural gas rescue Ukraine from Russia? The Washington Post, 25 March. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/03/25/can-u-s-natural-gas-rescue-ukraine-from-russia. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Wara, M. (2014). America’s natural gas lever. The New York Times, 8 March. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/opinion/americas-natural-gas-lever.html. Accessed 14 April 2014.
Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges the research, editing and drafting assistance provided by Catherine LaRoque, Programme Assistant in the Eurasia Division of the International Republican Institute.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Nix, S.B. Responding to the Russian invasion of Crimea: policy recommendations for US and European leaders. European View 13, 143–152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-014-0297-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-014-0297-3