The Military Backlash

Abstract

The dramatic events in Ukraine in February 2014 resulted in the collapse of Yanukovych’s regime and a change of government. One of the first steps of the new leadership was to assert the pro-European course. These events, however, triggered a backlash from Russia. This chapter focuses on its military and political dimensions. Russia’s response directly sought to fundamentally weaken Ukraine’s resolve to persist with the European choice by re-drawing Ukrainian statehood. Russia’s actions also sought to expose the limits of the EU’s readiness to support Ukraine during this period, and in particular its search for a political settlement in the face of Russia’s armed suasion. This chapter will explore the contours of these events with a view to understanding Russia’s strategy.