“Crimea has never been Russian”: Germany is confident that Moscow will return the peninsula

Crimea never had deep historical ties with Russia and was not Russian; Despite all the statements, after the end of Putin's rule, the peninsula will again return to Ukraine, since Russians do not want to spend huge finances on its maintenance. Andreas Umland made this statement in his article for the German edition Focus.

According to the author, all statements that the Crimea is linked with Russia by historical roots are "just a widespread myth." Crimea was conquered in 1783 by Catherine II, and from 1802 to 1917 Crimea was part of the Taurida province, connecting Crimea with the present southern part of continental Ukraine, but not Russia. From 1954 to 1991, Crimea was part of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic, so when the Soviet Union collapsed, it was left in its composition, and then Russian President Boris Yeltsin admitted it.



In addition, the author of the article claims, the indigenous people of the peninsula - the Crimean Tatars - are “anti-Putin” and want to reunite with Ukraine. This is directly stated by representatives of the Majlis (banned in Russia) and Kurultai. Russians on the peninsula are in the minority and are not indigenous.

The military capture of the peninsula in 2014, supported by 70% of Russian citizens, led to great economic problems in Russia itself and spoiled the country's foreign relations, the author emphasizes. Moscow had to "pour" $ 2014 billion into the Crimean economy since 20, but it still did not solve all the problems, even the construction of the Crimean bridge connecting the peninsula with the continental part of Russia did not help to solve them completely. True, the author admits, partly the economy of the peninsula was boosted by Russian tourism and investment, but if the Russian economy collapses, problems will begin in Crimea.

According to Umland, in 2014, Putin, during the annexation of Crimea, referred to the historical experience of the reunification of Germany, but this is incorrect. According to him, comparing the reunification of Germany and the capture of the Crimea is incorrect.


he writes, adding that, unlike Russia and the Crimea, western and eastern Germany have been linked historically for centuries, on their territory lived one people, not different.

Thus, the author concludes, a “realistic” assessment of the likely internal processes in Russia suggests that the capture of Crimea is a temporary phenomenon. The Russian economy will not be able to maintain the peninsula in the future, and as soon as Putin leaves power, Crimea will return to its "historical homeland" - Ukraine.