The Russian-Ukrainian conflict over Crimea

For the last four decades security in Europe has been burdened by armed violence accompanying the disintegration of a number of states in the Eastern Mediterranean, Western Balkans and the territory of the former Soviet Union. They have resulted in the creation of new internationally recognised states, unrecognised state-like entities and unresolved "frozen" conflicts. A probable newcomer to the last type appeared in spring 2014 - the Ukrainian-Russian conflict over Crimea. Most of the international community does not recognise its annexation by Russia and considers that Crimea still belongs to Ukraine. The annexation and related attempted secessions and armed hostilities in Eastern Ukraine have worsened the West\u27s relations with Russia and the general political climate in the Euro-Atlantic area. The political and legal stand-off between Ukraine and Russia has created an additional "frozen" conflict in Europe.Najnovejši rusko-ukrajinski konflikt zaradi Krima je pritegnil široko mednarodno pozornost. Pričujoči članek je namenjen osvetlitvi in razlagi njegovega zgodovinskega, demografskega, pravnega, političnega in vojaškostrateškega ozadja, podobnosti in razlik z drugimi "zamrznjenimi" konflikti na obrobju nekdanje Sovjetske zveze, položaju in vlogi treh poglavitnih strani neposredno vpletenih v krimski konflikt, njegovih povezav z odcepitvenimi prizadevanj v vzhodni in južni Ukrajini, širših mednarodnih odmevov in posledičnega poslabšanja v odnosih med Zahodom in Rusko federacijo