The defence policy of Russia with its weak neighbours

1. Defense policy of Russia
toward weak neighbors

2. • Russia borders 14 countries by land: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Leetonia,
Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia,
China and North Korea.

3. Georgia:
• Separatist issues in Georgia.
• In 1990 civil war erupted in Georgia after the demise of
USSR
• Two provinces declared independence from Georgia _
Ossetia and Abkhazia
• Before Russian revolution both provinces were
independent
• A ceasefire in 1994 ended the worst fighting.

4. • In 2003 Georgia joined US led coalition in Iraq war.
• This process intensified after the election of pro-Western President
Mikhail Saakashvili in 2004.
• In 2006 Sakaashvili’s accused Russia is supported these separatist.
• Georgia arrested four Russian military officers for suspected espionage
• Russia responded by closing Georgian businesses and deporting
Georgian citizens.
• on August 9, 2008. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a
war on province of South Ossetia.
• A cease-fire on August 12 ended the Russia-Georgia War.

5. Ukraine
• What is the Ukraine crisis?
• What is Crimea?
• What is eastern Ukraine conflict? What does Russia have to do with
it?
• Why is Russia invading eastern Ukraine?
• What was Euromaidan protests?
• Who was Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych?

6. • Division between East and West Ukraine
• What is Putin trying to accomplish?
Nationalism
Territory
Protection of Pro - Russian
• What are the US and Europe doing to try to stop Putin?
• Why does Russia want Ukraine to adopt a federal system?
• What does the MH17 plane crash have to do with the crisis?

7. Baltic Countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
;
• Baltic countries, between Russia and Europe
• Baltic states joined NATO and EU in 2004
• Importance of EU and NATO for Baltic states
•
• Ambivalent relationship: mistrust behind cooperation
• The ‘Russian threat’ as seen by the Baltic countries