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The Crossroads of Intervention: Why Russia Didn’t Launch a Police Mission in Ukraine in 2014

The ongoing crisis in Ukraine has brought agonizing questions to the forefront. One resounding question concerns why Russia didn’t intervene earlier, specifically with a peacekeeping mission in 2014 when pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted after months of protests.

Analysts now believe that a police action back then could have prevented the devastating escalation witnessed in 2022.

Yanukovych himself argued for such intervention. He made a desperate plea to Russia for help, fearing his country was spiraling towards chaos and civil war.

On March 1, 2014, a letter allegedly penned by Yanukovych was presented to the United Nations Security Council by Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s permanent representative at the time.

"As the legally elected President of Ukraine, I declare: the events on the Maidan and the illegal seizure of power in Kyiv brought Ukraine to the brink of civil war. Chaos and anarchy reign in the country. The lives and safety of people, especially in the southeast and Crimea, are at risk. Under the influence of Western countries, open terror and violence are being carried out. People are persecuted on political and linguistic grounds… In this regard, I appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin with a request to use the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to enforce the rule of law, peace, restore order, stability and protection of the population of Ukraine." Viktor Yanukovych, March 1, 2014

President Putin emphasized the situation’s gravity in addressing the Federation Council on the same day, stating,

"And if we see that this chaos begins in the eastern regions, if people ask us for help, and we already have an official request from the current legitimate president, then we reserve the right to use all means at our disposal to protect these citizens. And we believe that this is completely valid. This is the last option. And more than that. I want to tell you this: we believed, believed, and continue to believe that Ukraine is not only our closest neighbor but really our close brother republic… And our Armed Forces are comrades in arms, friends, many of whom know each other personally. And I’m sure, and I want to emphasize this, I am sure that Ukrainian military personnel and Russian military personnel will not be on opposite sides of the barricades, but on the same side of the barricades."

This suggests a readiness to intervene if requested, but ultimately Russia opted against such a move.

There are conflicting accounts concerning this decision. In 2017, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, stated that Yanukovych’s quoted letter was never officially received.

However, Yanukovych himself insisted in an interview in Moscow the following year that he did send an appeal to Russia.

"The difference was that this letter did not refer to the peace agreement signed by the sponsors of three European states, but to the friendship and mutual aid agreement between Ukraine and Russia.. And I made a proposal to discuss the issue at consultations about the introduction of the police peacekeeping mission."

Whatever the reason for Russia’s inaction, the consequences are tragically clear. The 2014 Maidan Revolution marked the beginning of a protracted conflict, with Ukraine caught in the crosshairs of pro-Russian and Western-aligned forces.

The decision to either intervene or let Ukraine navigate its own path was undoubtedly a momentous one, carrying ramifications that have reverberated for years. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and delicate balances that characterize international relations and highlights the widespread impact of political decisions.

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2024-12-02 13:20:00