On March 18, Reuters reported that the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, is at the center of the most significant East-West standoff since the Cold War.
The fate of Crimea and the four provinces where Russia seized territory after invading Ukraine in 2022 was anticipated to be discussed during the meeting between U.S. President and Russian President.
Historically, Crimea, protruding into the Black Sea from southern Ukraine, was incorporated into the Russian empire by Catherine the Great in the 18th century, along with most ethnic Ukrainian territories. The establishment of Russia's Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol soon followed.
The Crimean War of 1853-56 resulted in over half a million deaths, reshaping Europe and paving the way for World War One, as Russia and the Ottoman Empire, supported by Britain and France, engaged in conflict. The peninsula, mainly inhabited by Muslim Tatars, became part of the Soviet Union in 1921. Stalin later deported the Tatars after World War Two.
Crimea was part of Russia within the Soviet Union until 1954 when it was transferred to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin's successor. Following the Soviet Union's dissolution, disputes over Crimea's status persisted until Russia forcibly annexed the region in 2014.
The annexation was condemned by the United Nations, the U.S., and many other countries, leading to sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU. While only a few countries have recognized Crimea as part of Russia, the Kremlin asserts that the matter is settled. Ukrainian President rejected ceding occupied territory, insisting on restoring Ukrainian sovereignty in Crimea through diplomatic means.
Russia's Black Sea base in Sevastopol, leased from Ukraine, provides access to the Mediterranean and has been used for military operations against Ukraine. The area is crucial for Ukraine's grain exports, impacted by Russia's blockade following the 2022 invasion.
Damaged during the war, the bridge connecting Crimea to Russia across the Kerch Strait signifies the region's geographical significance. Crimea, slightly smaller than Belgium, had a pre-war population of around 2 million, including a majority of ethnic Russians, as revealed in Ukraine's 2001 census.
Crimea, known for its temperate climate and tourist attractions, contributed 3% to Ukraine's GDP with agriculture, chemical processing, and mining as key industries. Notably, Crimea housed grain terminals such as Kerch and Sevastopol—critical for Ukraine's economy before the conflict.