The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reportedly wants to take back the Peninsula of Crimea. The southernmost region formerly of Ukraine was annexed by Russia back in 2014 during the Obama administration. Not much kickback or protest took place when Crimea was taken for a variety of reasons. First of all, Crimea is largely ethnically Russian. Second, there was a vote for the citizens of Crimea to decide if they wanted to become part of the Russian Federation or stay with Ukraine. The vote was overwhelming. The Crimean people sided with Russia.
Zelensky wants Crimea back and it is probably for the obvious reason of gaining a strategic advantage. Russia built up the Crimean Peninsula with the city of Sevastopol. This city operates as a port and a military installation. There are a ton of Russian warships and other equipment stationed on the Peninsula. The geographic location is north and center of the Black Sea. If Ukraine reclaimed Crimea, they would gain a military advantage to counteract Russia and they would assert dominance over the Black Sea… or at least the northern part of it. The problem is that the people of Crimea reject Ukraine. NBC News interviewed dozens of Russians on the streets of Crimea and the general sentiment was that if Ukraine tried to send troops to their homes, they would be seen as an invasive, unwelcomed force.
SOURCES:
Zelensky vows Ukraine will take back Crimea from Russia | The Hill
Ukraine’s Talk of Taking Back Crimea Leaves U.S. Divided
Zelensky on Crimea’s recapture: We are preparing for this
Russia claims it repelled ‘massive’ Crimea drone attack
Biden Challenged by Softening Public Support for Arming Ukraine – The New York Times
Russian Officials Call for Assassination of Volodymyr Zelensky Over Bryansk Attacks in Leaked Texts
Ukraine may ‘strategically pull back’ from embattled Bakhmut: Zelensky adviser | The Hill
Fact check: Zelensky didn’t say American sons and daughters have to fight in Ukraine | CNN Politics
Zelenskyy Says Your Sons Will Fight And Die For Ukraine! – YouTube
