Is Putin Preparing to Get More Involved in Ukraine?

The Kremlin has recently claimed to have disrupted multiple Ukranian spy networks on the island of Crimea this past month, saying that the existence of these networks are a clear indication that Ukraine is seeking to destabilize the newly annexed territory.

Since the Russian involvement in Eastern Ukraine a few years ago, Eastern Europe has been on the edge, anticipating further action from the Russian military that could possibly endanger the region. These countries have a good reason to be this way. After all, most of the countries that border Russia, like the Baltic states, are relatively small countries with tiny military forces, unable to adequately defend against countries like Russia in the event of a possible invasion.

Couple that with the fact that the Russian government has threatened to use nuclear weapons against other European countries and the fact that the Kremlin’s rhetoric is eerily similar to the rhetoric used when the Russians invaded Crimea, it is no wonder why countries are concerned with the current situation.

Given Ukrainian’s particular experience with Russia, it must be even more nerve-wracking to have to deal with such an unpredictable neighbor that at any given day could steamroll into your country and take it over in a matter of weeks. Having said that, it would be incredibly stupid for a country like Ukraine to directly instigate and incite violence against one of the strongest militaries in the world, right?

According to Russia, that is not the case. Rather, the Kremlin claims that Ukraine is attempting to create discontent and violence in Eastern Ukraine and the island of Crimea. Instead of giving justification or proof, the Kremlin only announced that they disrupted some cells and captured equipment that is commonly used by the Ukrainian special forces.

Clashes were also being reported in Crimea as well, along with heightened activity on the Eastern Ukrainian border with Russia.

“The people who seized power in Kiev … have switched to terror tactics instead of searching for ways for a peaceful settlement,” Putin said at a news conference in Russia. Clearly, Russia isn’t on good terms with Ukraine. They have been hammering away at Ukraine for the better part of a couple of years, angry at the fact that Victor Yanukovych was ousted in a revolution.

This is what largely lead to the military intervention in Eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. Given that NATO or no other country responded to these provocations, Putin has taken advantage of the situation in Eastern Europe as nobody is willing to confront their actions. Putin knows this. He knows he can get away with whatever he wants to do so why not fabricate a false flag operation to re-engage directly against Ukraine. After all, Ukraine is not a member of NATO so it is highly unlikely that Europe or the United States will do anything to stop Russia.

More than likely, this ratcheted up this rhetoric in blaming Ukraine for destabilizing Crimea is most likely done in order to give Russia a pretext for war with Ukraine. Ok, maybe not for war but it could be for something else. There could be plenty of reasons for the Kremlin to be more aggressive towards Ukraine. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Featured Image via Wikimedia