Lecture 1 - Putin and The Cold War

Question 1

The collapse of the Eastern Bloc.

What was it?

Date?

Answer 1

The collapse of the Eastern Bloc was when the germans took down the Berlin wall. The wall signified the iron curtain. Taking down the wall represented the end of the Cold War.

1981

Question 2

Collapse of the USSR

What was this?

Date?

Answer 2

Many soviet republics decided to no longer be apart of the Soviet Union.

The soviet union had collapsed - mainly because of Gorbachev’s reforms

1991

Question 3

Mikhail Gorbachev

Who is he?

Dates

Answer 3

He was the last general secretary of the soviet union.

Appointed in 1985-1991

Lead the reforms and nuclear disarmament: ‘Glasnost’ - “openness” and ‘Perestroika’ - “reconstructing”.

Question 4

Yuri Andropov

Who is he?

Dates?

Answer 4

Chairman of the KGB: (1967-1982)

General secretary of the central committee of the communist party of the soviet union: (1982-1984)

Question 5

Lavrentiy Beria

Who is he?

Dates?

Answer 5

Chief of the secret and security policy system (NKVD) under Joseph Stalin in the 1930’s and 40s

Question 6

Boris Yeltsin

Who?

When?

Answer 6

First president of the Russian federation

1991 - 1999

Question 7

Yeltin’s decade

What did he do and when?

Answer 7

Yeltin became the presidency after Gorbachev. - 1991

He ruined the economy - he turned it from communist to capitalist. Everything became privatised, causing a lot of poverty.

Loss state control - the oligarchs began to buy shares, had more control than he did

Resigned due to the failure of the economy, health - Putin took over - 1999

Question 8

Vladmir Putin

Dmitry Medvedev

Who

When

Tsar (king) of the Russia

Answer 8

President, (2000-2004), (2004-2008), (2012-2018)

Ex KGB

Dmitry: ‘Putin’s man’, ex-president

Tsar:

• He ressurected Russia’s pride, new direction and strategy
• Director of FSB (new kgb)
• Control international and national mechanisms. Oils and gas pipelines.

Question 9

Putin’s Strategic Aims:

To regain control of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and rebuild Russia’s sphere of influence…

BUT HOW?

Answer 9

• Fueling conflicts within ex-soviet countries. (e.g. Ukraine, Gerogia)
• Oil and gas pipelines, Russia is rich in natural resources and Putin used this to his advantage to gain control, controlling price and flow
• Controlling oligarchs

Question 10

Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines

Rosneft

Answer 10

Energy is KEY to regaining power and international influence

Rosneft: Russia’s state-run oil company - sold China 270bill worth of oil (over 25 years)

Question 11

OLIGARCH 1: Roman Abramovich

OLIGARCH 2: Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Answer 11

1. Roman Abramovich. “Putin’s son”. Worth 7 billion. The owner of Chelsea football club in London. Ex-business partner with Berezovsky. Involved in fraud
2. Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Most successful oligarch of the 90s. Owned a small margin of oil resources in Russia. Early 2000’s - the richest man in the world. Bought Yukos. Arrested after Putin claimed ‘Tax fraud’.
   Imprisoned: used his wealth for political power

Question 12

OLIGARCH 3: Oleg Deripaska

OLIGARCH 4: Mikhail Gutseriyev

Answer 12

3. Oleg Deripaska. “Aluminium king”. CEO of Rusal. Owns £25m house in Belgravia.
4. Mikhail Gutseriyev. President Russneft. Son murdered to lure him into returning to Russia where he was facing allegations of tax fraud - Putin got his out of it for ‘keeping his mouth shut’.

Question 13

OLIGARCH 5: Alexander Lebedev

Novaya Gazeta

OLIGARCH 6: Mikhail Prokhorov

Answer 13

5. Alexander Lebedev. Ex KGB. The owner of Evening Standard and The Independent.

The Novaya Gazeta were very critical of Putin. and surprisingly, 4 of its journalists were assassinated.

6. Mikhail Prokhorov. Leading industrialist for Russia’s metals. Owns basketball team, nets. The only newcomer to be allowed to vote in the election.

Question 14

OLIGARCH 7: Vitaly Malkin

OLIGARCH 8: Boris Berezovsky

Answer 14

7. Vitaly Malkin. A Russian-Israeli businessman worth $1 billion. Co-founder of 3rd largest bank in 90s. Invested millions in Toronto and had been trying to get Canadian citizenship.
8. Boris Berezovsky. Made his money by capturing state assets with the collapse of the USSR. Survived many assassination attemps. Got political asylum in Britain, 2001.

Question 15

Berezovsky’s death

When?

What happened?

Why?

Answer 15

23rd March 2013, Berezovsky was found dead at his house in Ascot.

He was found hanging in his bathroom (locked), the outcome of death: suicide.

He was depressed and under a lot of debt, (35mill)

Before he died he wrote a letter to Putin, asking for forgiveness so he could return to Russia.

Family and friends believed he was murdered. 3rd Ex-USSR suspicious death

Question 16

Putin’s principles:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Answer 16

1. Never sponsor the opposition. (enemies)
2. Don’t do buissness with the west. (stay in control of oil and energy)
3. Don’t attempt to influence economic policy.
4. Do not show off, espeially to Russia
5. Don’t send money abroad

Question 17

The North Caucasus and Russia

Answer 17

The North Caucasus region is the part of Russia that slopes up towards the main ridge of the Caucasus mountains often considered the border between Europe and Asia.

A lot of oil and energy ran through and Russia wanted to take control

Question 18

Russia vs Ukraine

Why was Russia so concerned about Ukraine?

Russia makes 1 billion every day from oil

Answer 18

Ukraine was crucial for Russia’s sphere of influence

They have very similar historical and cultural ties wth Russia

Ukraine was a carrier of 80 percent of Russias oil resources

Question 19

Crimea = Crimean Peninsula (Crimea)

What is it?

Why is it important?

When/

Answer 19

The peninsula of Crimea is in southern Ukraine. Half pro-Russia half pro-Europe.

Crimea is a centre of pro-Russian sentiment, which can spill into separatism.

Part of (Soviet) Russia (1917)

Transferred to (Soviet) Ukraine (1954)

Russia claims Crimea (2014).

Ukraine (and the rest of Europe) depends on Russia for natural gas. Russia accused Ukraine of not paying for the gas and withholding gas from the pipelines that were destined for Europe

In 2006: Russia but off Ukraine’s energy for 4 days

January 2009: 18 European countries affected by cut-offs

November 2009: Deal at Yalta between Tymoshenko and Putin

Question 20

Alexey Miller – The President’s Man

Who?
When?
What?

GRAZPROM

Answer 20

One of Putin’s closest partners.

In 2001 Putin signed Miller as the CEO of Grazprom (huge Russian gas business)

Grazprom: world’s largest gas company

Question 21

Ukraine presidential election

Orange Revolution

Answer 21

Ukraine held an election.

Between Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych

The orange revolution happened when Yanukovych won the election. Supposedly a rigged election result, Ukraine kicked up a fuss with protest

2004 - Re-vote. Clear victory of Yushchenko.

Question 22

Crisis in Ukraine (‘Euromaidan’): towards a civil war?

28 Jan 2014: Prime Minister resigns

Answer 22

21 Nov 2013: rumours that Ukrainian gov’t suspended talks with EU (meaning they would have closer ties with Russia than EU)

24 Nov 2013: 200,000 protesters gather at the Square; 200 injuries

Ukraine does not sign the Association Agreement with the EU; protesters set as strategic goal the resignation of President Yanukovich and the gov’t

2013: rumours of secret meetings with Putin / massive deal for bail-out, oil & customs union
8 Dec 2013: massive protest (c. 500,000 protesters)

16 Jan 2014: Ukrainian parliament passes anti-protest laws kerbing media, free speech and helmets

28 Jan 2014: Prime Minister resigns

Question 23

Yatsenyuk appointed PM (pro Europe)

Referendum

Unrest in the Donbass (Donetsk and Luhansk)

Answer 23

• Protests in Crimea and eastern Ukraine
• Russian forces invade Ukraine, seize Crimean parliament building - the EU did not support this. Russia then stopped

March 16 2014: Referendum in Crimea.

March 18 2004: Russia take over Crimea

War between post-revolutionary Ukranian government and pro-Russian insurgents (civil war)

Question 24

Petro Poroshenko

Answer 24

Elected President of Ukraine on 25 May 2014

Former oligarch

He wants to integrate with EU and NATO but also wants to restore relations with Russia - seen as moderate

Question 25

MH17

Malaysian airline flight 17 crashes

Answer 25

Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Donetsk (50km from the Ukraine/Russia border)

Western intelligence suggests that the plane was shot down by pro-Russian

The Russian government blamed the Ukraine government and the Ukraine blamed Russia.

Question 26

Minsk Protocol

Answer 26

An agreement to halt the war in the Donbass region of Ukraine, on 5 September 2014

Immediate ceasefire

January 2015: ceasefire breaks down

Feb 2015: peace negotiations between ‘the Normandy four’

A new package of measures meant to stop fighting in the Donbass, called “Minsk II”, was agreed to on 12 February 2015

Question 27

Frozen Conflict

What could become of this?

Answer 27

A situation in which active armed conflict has been brought to an end, but no peace treaty or other political framework resolves the conflict to the satisfaction of the combatants - legally a conflict could actually start again…

What might happen?

Ukraine remains a unified country (apart from Crimea and other Donetsk)

Ukraine becomes a ‘loose federation’ - where it is divided by pro-Russian supporters and pro-Europe.

Civil wars escalate and foreign powers get involved

West/EU get involved - could start a nuclear war

Only viable way? “bridge” between Russia and the EU; non-EU, non-NATO but also non-Russian

Question 28

Greek Government - 2015

Answer 28

Greece shifted towards a ‘multilateral’ foreign policy seeking loans and investments from Russia, ideologically closer

Meetings took place between Greek/Russian governments, discussing plans for alternative funding (outside the EU)

The greek foreign minister threatened to block EU sanctions, and Russia favours in return

Could of been used by Greece as a tool to get money

After the EU referendum, and agreement was made that Russia is not prepared to fund Greece’s economy

Question 29

War in South Ossetia (Russia v. Georgia) – August 2008

Putin’s strategic aims

Why was there a war in the first place?

Answer 29

Georgia, just like the Ukraine is key to Russians sphere of influence

Georgia is one of the key passages for (non-Russian) oil and gas pipelines for the Captain see to the EU

If Russia was to bomb the pipeline they would become the primary energy providers

Putin’s strategy involved:

• Stop Georgia’s association with NATO
• Bring down pro-West Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
• Control the flow of oil and natural gas

Why was there a war in the first place?

• South Ossetia and Abkhazia = ex-autonomous Georgian regions, became contested territories with strong Russian influence
• 7/8th of August 2008, Georgia issues an attack to regain territory
• Sent troops into South Ossetia and Abkhazia, bombed Georgia and occupied Georgian cities
• Russia withdrew from Georgia but left “peace-keeping” troops throughout South Ossetia and Abkhazia and recognised their independence

Question 30

Russia v. Moldova

Transinstria

Dissidents of Transnistria trying to break away
Transinstria = hothouse of international crime

Russia brokered a deal: dissidents will settle for autonomy (rather than independence) but Moldova won’t seek entry to NATO

Aim = build a neutral (“buffer”) zone between Europe/NATO and Russia

Answer 30

Dissidents of Transnistria trying to break away

Transinstria = hothouse of international crime

Russia created a deal, dissidents will settle for autonomy (rather than independce) but Moldova wont seek entry to NATO

Creating a neutral ‘buffer’ zone between Europe/NATO and Russia.

(Basically, US asked Romania if they could put missiles on their grounds, and Russia didn’t want this so made a deal with Transnistria to put Missiles opposite them making them pointless)