Russia’s Security Interests: Dominating Ukraine

Abstract

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was forced to redefine many of its interests and domestic policies, including its security policy. The orientation of Russia’s security policy is important for Russia, its neighbours, and the international community because, for the past several centuries, Russia’s concept of security was synonymous with the concept of empire. Today Russia believes that regional power and influence are the keys to its long-term goals. This paper demonstrates that, motivated by its desire to foster and maintain power and influence, Russia’s regional security interests are to create an exclusive zone of influence over the economic, military and political spheres of the CIS members such as Ukraine. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates that the success of Russia’s security directives in Ukraine not only subjugates Ukraine to the pressures of Russia, but reminds the world that Russia is capable of acting as a great power.