Crimea Quotes
It was true that the majority of the citizens of Crimea in 2014 preferred to be a part of Russia than the Ukraine. So the Russians sized the Crimea, had an election and when the vast majority of the Crimeans voted for Russian affiliation, they annexed the Crimea under the principle of self-determination. However, Russia has two of its states with Muslim majorities that prefer to affiliate with one of the majority Muslim nations in the area. But the hypocrisy of the Russians became clear when they would not allow those two states to have elections. The Russian policy seemed to be that whatever is part of Russia is non-negotiable and not subject to self-determination, but whatever borders on Russia that is not part of Russia is entitled to an expression of self-determination and independence of other affiliation if they want. The Crimea had the only warm water port in the Soviet Union; they had a deal with the Ukrainians that their navy could use the port. However, they felt that Western support for the new Ukrainian government was the first step in ousting Russia from that port.
The treaty followed an aggressive military policy of Russia against the Ottomans on several fronts. Turkey then granted independence to the Crimea and ceded control of several key ports to Russia. This treaty was seen as a major humiliation of the Ottoman Empire and marked a turning point in the relations between Europe and the Middle East.
as was the Russian custom Pogodin was one of the “pundits” of his day. This remarkable quotation to the most autocratic ruler in the world, is dramatic in that he is telling the Czar to not be so ostentatious and to cut back on his personal lifestyle and that of his royal family as well. There was no retaliation or consequences that resulted but all his advice was not taken.
