Abstract (eng)
The annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea peninsula by Russia in 2014 was and still continues to be a very relevant and controversial issue in politics and the media today. In particular, it led to a polarizing and emotionally charged debate between Russia, Ukraine and Western actors, each representing a different viewpoint. The aim of the present work is above all to examine Russia’s motives decisive for the Crimean annexation.
From the findings of the selected research material, the following motives of Russia behind the Crimean annexation have been identified: 1) Protection of the Russian population living on the territory of Crimea peninsula and their human rights; 2) Russia’s neo-Soviet revisionist attempts and Putin's neo-imperialism; 3) Expansionist policy of the West.
The theories of the international relations are the best fit to explain state behavior. In this work, the theory of neorealism and its concepts of security dilemma, power maximization, power balance and zero-sum game are applied. These allow best the explanation of the Crimean annexation against the backdrop of a security-, power-, and balance- seeking Russia. After analyzing the individually stipulated reasons behind Russia’s Crimea annexation, they are being evaluated on the basis of the selected neorealist concepts. These are then further examined to assess their impact which they might have had on Russia’s behavior in the course of the Crimean annexation.
For the purposes of Russia’s motives behind the Crimean annexation, the international system after the end of the Cold War until the time of the annexation of the Crimea is presented in this work. In this context, also the position of Ukraine and the Crimea, and in particular their political, historical and geographical circumstances, especially in the post-1989 period are examined. The relations between Russia, Ukraine, the EU and NATO are also put under investigation and examined as to how these relations were or are still shaped by their often opposing interests.