In a fascinating article, Weller traces the lead-up to the invasion. He highlights how the Kremlin has consistently challenged the prohibition of the use of force in the past 25 years, including disowning peace agreements such as Minsk with Ukraine or that signed by Boris Yeltsin with Chechnya, false allegations of terrorism and armed incursions to justify claims of self-defence.
He looks at Putin’s claim Ukraine has not implemented its Minsk agreement promise to offer an enhanced status for Donbas, noting instead ‘the Kremlin has failed to put in place the agreed preconditions for these changes’. In fact, he writes, ‘Moscow has retained its forces in several former Soviet territories along its western borders, generally unlawfully, against the will of the states concerned. This allows Russia to raise tension at any moment of its choosing, creating permanent instability.’
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