By - Keshar
Tanwar
BY – KESHAR TANWAR (2101070)
Background of the war
•Historical Ties:
•Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union until its dissolution
in 1991.
•Shared cultural, historical, and political ties created a complex relationship between
the two nations.
•Ukraine's Independence:
•Ukraine declared independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
•This marked the start of Ukraine's efforts to assert sovereignty while balancing
relations with Russia and the West.
•Post-Soviet Transition:
•Ukraine struggled with economic instability, corruption, and political division.
•Its eastern regions leaned toward Russia, while the western regions favored closer ties
with Europe.
•NATO and EU Aspirations:
•Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership and closer integration with the European
Union caused tension with Russia, which perceived these moves as a threat to its
sphere of influence.
Military Causes of the Russia-Ukraine War
•NATO Expansion:
•Russia viewed NATO's eastward expansion as a direct threat to its
security.
•Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO heightened Moscow’s concerns
about NATO military presence near its borders.
•Strategic Control of Crimea:
•Crimea hosts the Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol, critical for Russia’s
naval power projection.
•Annexation secured Russia's access to warm-water ports and bolstered
its strategic military position.
•Defense of Russian-speaking Populations
•Russia claimed that ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in Eastern
Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) needed protection from alleged
Ukrainian military aggression.
•This narrative provided a pretext for military intervention.
4. Geopolitical Buffer Zone:
•Ukraine serves as a buffer state between Russia and NATO.
•Russia sought to maintain Ukraine in its sphere of influence to avoid
potential NATO military deployments on its doorstep.
Economic Causes of War
•Control of Natural Resources:
Ukraine possesses vast natural resources, including coal, natural gas, and
fertile agricultural land.
Russia sought to control these resources to strengthen its economic leverage
and weaken Ukraine.
•Energy Transit Routes:
Ukraine is a key transit country for Russian natural gas exports to Europe.
Securing influence over Ukraine would help Russia control energy flow and
negotiate from a position of strength with Europe.
•Black Sea Trade and Ports:
Access to the Black Sea is vital for trade routes and economic activity.
Russia's annexation of Crimea and military actions aimed to dominate key
ports like Mariupol and Odessa.
•Geopolitical Economic Influence:
Russia sought to prevent Ukraine from integrating economically with the
European Union.
Ukraine’s alignment with Western economic systems threatened Russia’s
influence in Eastern Europe.
Legal Framework Under International
Law
The Prohibition of the Use of Force: Article 2(4) of the UN
Charter - The principle of the prohibition of the use of force is a
cornerstone of international law and is enshrined in Article 2(4)
of the United Nations Charter. It states:
"All Members shall refrain in their international relations from
the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any state, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.“
The Principle of State Sovereignty and Non-Intervention: The
principle of sovereignty is a fundamental aspect of international
law, emphasizing the right of states to govern their internal affairs
without external interference.
Accountability and Justice Mechanisms in
the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Responses by
International Bodies.
UNGA Resolution on Russia-Ukraine: The emergency special session
was convened by UNGA for discussing a resolution that called for Russia
to unconditionally withdraw its troops. The resolution was discussed
under the rubric of the “Uniting for Peace” resolution.
The International Criminal Court (ICC)
ICC Investigation into the Russia-Ukraine Conflict In March 2022, ICC
Prosecutor Karim Khan announced the opening of an investigation into
alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Key areas of focus include: Deliberate targeting of civilians:
Bombing of residential areas, hospitals, and schools. Use of prohibited
weapons
The forced deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, to
Russian territory.
Global Impacts of the War
Emergency Humanitarian Appeal
Europe facing its biggest refugee crisis since the Second
World War
Nuclear facilities & Weapons of Mass Destruction
Food security
Inflation
“THERE IS NO INSTANCE OF
A NATION BENEFITTING
FROM A PROLONGED
WARFARE”
- Sun Tzu-Art of war
