European insecurity after Crimea / Why Crimea matters

The 'express annexation' of Crimea, together with instability across eastern Ukraine, has raised an issue that West Europeans have forgotten after decades of comfortable security, but which is vital for the countries of the post-Soviet sphere that are knocking on our doors: the continuing need for security guarantees in Europe.

In a separate ECFR Commentary (see related url hyperlink) Mark Leonard writes 'Small events can have huge, unintended consequences. The assassination of an archduke in the Balkans led to the dissolution of the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires.

The annexation of Crimea could begin the dissolution of the western-led international order'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ECFR: Wider Europe Programme: Crisis in Ukraine http://www.ecfr.eu/wider/ukraine

ECFR: Commentary, 10.04.14: Why Crimea matters http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_why_crimea_matters

ECFR: Commentary, 09.04.14: Russia, Europe, and the new international order http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_russia_europe_and_the_new_international_order245

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 17.04.14: Only decisive western action can prevent eastern Ukraine from becoming another Crimea http://bit.ly/1hL76TX

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