The Russian annexation of Crimea is considered the largest seizure of foreign land since World War II. Despite the universal understanding that independent countries maintain territorial integrity, the invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea marked significant departures from international norms. Unfortunately, the lack of international response or outcry in March 2014 contributed to a similar passivity in the event of further invasions, thus lowering the perceived risk of attempting a comparable occupation.
Even with the ineffectual efforts of the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia-controlled territory and the lack of NATO response to the invasion, contemporary researchers feared that the annexation of Crimea signaled the start of a more significant conflict. They also anticipated that the Western response would encourage further Russian expansion and invasion. These fears were realized as Russia continued to engage in further seizures, resulting in over 14,000 casualties, including an incident in 2018 where Russian ships fired upon several Ukrainian naval vessels in international waters.
Despite further EU sanctions and denouncements from many countries, Western countries did not provide military support. These smaller conflicts and invasions continued for nearly a decade without significant Western military interference or international attention, paving the way for a larger conflict in Ukraine.
Russia used salami tactics, slowly taking control of a region by occupying numerous small portions, to eventually annex Ukraine in its entirety. The annexation of Crimea assured Russia that the international community would not respond with violence to small-scale annexations, providing the country with enough confidence to continue hacking away at small slices of Ukrainian land from 2014 to 2021 without concern over foreign interference.
The lack of international response to the Ukrainian conflict eventually led to Russia’s use of salami tactics being no longer necessary, and the lack of international support to Ukraine in the wake of Crimea ensured Russia’s confidence in inciting conflict in the region and further territorial expansion.
In conclusion, the Crimean invasion, which began Russia’s preparation to seize control in the region and continued over nearly a decade, paved the way for a larger conflict in Ukraine. The combination of a lack of international response, Russia’s use of salami tactics in Ukraine, and the lack of international support for Ukraine influenced how Russia handles territorial expansion.
