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Context:

The United States President Donald Trump asked Ukraine to accept a peace deal under which the US would formally recognise Crimea — which Russia seized in 2014 — as Russian territory.

Geographic Significance of Crimea

Russia's Quest for Warm Water Ports

Despite having over 37,000 km of coastline, much of it lies north of the Arctic Circle, making many Russian ports unusable during winter months due to sea ice. This limitation has driven a continuous exploration for accessible warm water ports throughout Russian history.

Gateway to the Mediterranean

The Black Sea represents Russia's most reliable access to warm water maritime routes. Crucially, it serves as the only direct pathway to the Mediterranean Sea through the Turkish-controlled Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. This access allows Russia to project power into southern Europe, Africa, West Asia, and beyond.

The Port of Sevastopol

While Russia possesses other Black Sea ports like Sochi and Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai, these are relatively shallow ports where ships often must moor offshore. This makes them less suitable as naval bases compared to Sevastopol in Crimea, which offers deep water capabilities that are ideal for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Sevastopol's strategic value explains why control over this port has been central to Russia-Ukraine tensions since the Soviet Union's collapse. The Kharkiv Pact of 1997, giving Crimea to Ukraine while allowing Russia to maintain control of Sevastopol until 2017. This arrangement was later extended to 2042 before Russia's annexation in 2014.

Trump's Proposal and International Implications

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent statement that "Crimea will stay with Russia" signals a potential major shift in U.S. foreign policy. According to reports, Trump has proposed a peace deal that would include formal U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, reversing the position held by previous administrations since 2014.

Geopolitical Consequences

• Precedent for Territorial Annexation: Formal recognition of Russia's annexation could establish a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian powers believing similar territorial ambitions. Example; Chinese ambitions regarding Taiwan.
• Impact on Ukraine's Sovereignty: Ukrainian President has rejected any deal surrendering territory, as it would violate Ukraine's constitution.
• Strategic Implications: Securing Crimea and the North Crimean Canal would permanently strengthen Russia's position in the Black Sea region.
• Global Security Architecture: Legitimizing border changes achieved through military force could undermine the post-WWII international order.

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Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS