WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1 WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRSW ebinar HandoutWEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRSW ebinar Handout CONTENT JANUARY 2022 (1st WEEK) Russia-Ukraine _____ 02-05 James Webb Telescope _____ 06-07 Health Index _____ 08-10 India Out Campaign in the Maldives _____ 11-12 Indianising the Legal System _____ 13-15 1. Russia-Ukraine Context: According to recent reports, Russia has amassed a large number of troops along its Ukraine border which has made US and Western European nations worried. Key Details: According to Ukraine, Russia has mobilised around 90,000 troops at their border, and according to a US intelligence report, Russia can invade Ukraine anytime.

2 Russia has denied any allegations of threatening Ukraine and stated that it has the right to station troops anywhere in its territory. Diplomatic efforts, involving US, European, Ukrainian and Russian officials, are underway to avoid military action. Figure: Russian troops along Russia-Ukraine Border. Source: Indian Express Probable Reasons of Troop Mobilisation by Russia: Crimea : There are apprehensions of large-scale war by Russia much like 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

3 Figure: Crimean takeover of Russia in 2014 Source: Indian Express Mains Paper General Studies 2 Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India s interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India s interests, A Ploy to Prevent Ukraine s NATO Induction: The recent troop mobilisation is a warning against the attempts of the US and EU to include Ukraine in the NATO alliance.

4 O Russia is worried about the consequences of the US-led military alliances expanding right up to its doorstep. o Russia seeks assurances from the US that Ukraine will not be inducted into NATO. Pressure Tactics of Putin: Many experts believe that Russia is keeping the tensions high at the Ukraine border in order to get sanctions relief and other concessions from the West. Perceived Violation of Minsk agreement: Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists of Eastern Ukraine (Donbas region) in 2015 agreed to a 13-point ceasefire deal for awarding greater autonomy to ethnically Russian regions.

5 But according to Russia Ukraine is not honouring the deal. Russian troop mobilisation can be a show of support for the Separatists of Ukraine. Ukraine-Britain Defence Deal: With the help of Britain, Ukraine is building naval ports in Ochakiv and Berdyansk near Russia. Russia is seeing this development as a threat tactic from the West. Figure: Ukrainian Naval Ports Source: Indian Express What are Russia s and the West s interests in Ukraine? Balance of Power: Both Russia and the West have vied for greater influence in Ukraine to keep the balance of power in the region in their favour.

6 West's Interests: o For the US and EU, Ukraine acts as a crucial buffer between Russia and the West. o An aligned Ukraine can help the West to box up Russia and prevent its influence and power projection in western Europe. Russian Interests: o Ukraine and Russia share a long history of cultural, linguistic and familial links. o As part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the second-most powerful Soviet republic after Russia, and was crucial strategically, economically and culturally. o Like most of the currently independent soviet nations, a large number of people in Ukraine are, ethnically and linguistically, of Russian descent especially in the southeastern region of Ukraine called Donbas.

7 O Russia is backing the Ethnically Russian Ukrainian separatists of Donetsk and Luhansk collectively called the Donbass region. o Russia wants to regain and expand its sphere of influence in its periphery. Figure: Donbass-Pro Russian Separatist regions of Ukraine Source: Wikimedia commons: RGloucester What Does This Standoff Mean for The World? Impact on Global Security: The tension on the Russia-Ukraine border represents a major security crisis for the region, with the potential to snowball into a broader conflict.

8 Impact on Geo-politics: This standoff can be the start of bitter contestation between USA and Russia and can plunge the world into Cold War Economic Impact: This standoff, if it results in conflict, will not be good for the World economy which is already under pandemic duress. Turkey's Geopolitical Game Plan: o If a conflict did transpire, Ankara, which has good relations with both Moscow and Kiev, could be one of the major beneficiaries. o Because of Erdogan s desire to emerge as a global power, Turkey is attempting to position itself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine o It is selling arms to Ukraine and purchasing weapons from Russia.

9 Impact on India: o Diplomatic Nightmare for India: If war breaks out, the EU and US have threatened to put more sanctions on Russia. Since India has friendship with both the US and Russia, Indian diplomacy will have to go through a tough phase balancing its defence and commercial relations with both the nations. o Economic: Global conflict involving Russia, which is one of the major Oil and Gas exporters, can disrupt oil and gas supply chains. It will badly affect India which is heavily import dependent for its oil and gas needs.

10 O Indirect help for China: Worsening of West-Russia relations will mean that there will be less focus of the US and EU on China and this could weaken the collective response to China s increasing aggressiveness in Indo-pacific. About NATO: NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949. The organisation works in the system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by a non-member external party.