Context:

• Amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, Crimea has once again come under global scrutiny following recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump, indicating potential US recognition of Crimea as part of Russia—a stance that diverges from prevailing international consensus.

About Crimea:

Geographical Location:

• A strategic peninsula located between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov

• Linked to mainland Ukraine via the Perekop Isthmus

• Separated from mainland Russia by the Kerch Strait and connected via the Crimean Bridge (opened in 2018; 19 km long—longest bridge in Europe)

• Borders: Ukraine (north), Russia (east via Kerch), and the Black Sea (south and west)

Physical Features:

• Features a mountainous southern coast, central steppe zone, and northern plains

• Contains the Tonka of Arabat, a narrow sandspit separating it from the Sea of Azov

• Hosts Sevastopol—a deep-water, all-season port and naval base

Historical Background:

Pre-Soviet and Soviet Era:

• Part of the Russian Empire since 1783, following annexation from the Ottoman Empire

• Became a part of the Soviet Union in 1922

• In 1954, Nikita Khrushchev, then Soviet Premier, transferred Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR as a symbolic gesture of unity—an act Russia now contests as illegal and politically motivated

Post-Soviet Developments:

• With the dissolution of the USSR (1991), Crimea remained an autonomous republic within independent Ukraine

• In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea following a disputed referendum after the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine

  • The move is considered illegal under international law (e.g., UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262)

  • Only a few countries recognize Russian control over Crimea

Geopolitical Significance of Crimea for Russia:

1. Strategic Military Value:

• Sevastopol hosts the Russian Black Sea Fleet, enabling naval dominance in the region

• Allows projection of military power into:

  • Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Mediterranean, and Middle East

• Serves as a base for electronic intelligence, air defense systems, and missile deployment

2. Warm-Water Port Access:

• Of Russia's ~37,000 km of coastline, a significant portion lies in the Arctic region, rendering many ports inoperable during winter

• The Black Sea, a non-freezing sea, provides critical year-round access

  • Connects via the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles to the Mediterranean Sea

  • Vital for trade, military logistics, and energy shipments

3. Economic and Energy Corridors:

• Russia aims to control:

  • Undersea energy pipelines (e.g., TurkStream)

  • Grain and hydrocarbon shipping lanes

  • Infrastructure routes linking southern Europe, Central Asia, and West Asia

• Crimea also offers access to offshore hydrocarbon reserves and serves as a buffer against NATO presence