One thousand days of war in Ukraine, punctuated by Biden green-lighting long-range missiles to penetrate Russia, has changed little. History suggests Russia will never disgorge Crimea, a warm water port for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol. Biden’s action is just reckless.
In 1774, two years before America declared independence from Great Britain, another war was winding down. Russia had beaten the Ottoman Empire. The Crimea officially became part of Russia.
Over the next 170 years, Crimea – specifically Sevastopol, a port at the southwestern tip of the Crimean peninsula – offered Russia access to the Black Sea, and from there the Mediterranean.
Without that port, Russia’s Navy was stuck in northern ports, which froze hard in winter, meaning their ability to defend “the Motherland” was compromised. They jealously guarded Sevastopol.
In the early 1950s, Nikita Khrushchev was angling to succeed Joseph Stalin. Khruschev’s competitor for the First Secretary of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union), was Georgii Malenkov. Somewhat surprisingly, in retrospect, Malenkov was favored.
Then came Sevastopol, Russia’s warm water port in Crimea, geographically tied to Ukraine. In 1954, the Crimea was 75 percent Russian people. Khrushchev hatched a plan to outflank Malenkov.
His plan was simple. Since the Soviet Union controlled Ukraine, he would get Ukrainian support against Malenkov by calling Crimea part of Ukraine. Papered legally, little changed – except Khrushchev won. Ukraine’s Soviet-dominated leader Crimea, Khrushchev got First Secretary.
Now, wind the clock ahead again. In 1992, a free Russia (Berlin Wall fell in 1989) called Khrushchev a “traitor,” and said the 1954 transfer of Crimea, Russia since 1783, was unconstitutional.
In 1998, mutual interest in peace produced the “Partition Treaty” – splitting the Black Sea Fleet between Russia and Ukraine, adding a “Treaty of Friendship,” money to Ukraine for Russia access.
The treaty – and an addenda out to 2042 – did not sit well with Russia-tilting Crimea. Nor did a hard-pushed agreement between the European Union (EU) and Ukraine. Ukraine’s president balked.
In effect, the Russian constituency in Ukraine wanted Russia to step away from the EU, and recognize closer ties to Russia. Port access for money was a good compromise, but apparently not enough.
Adding insult to injury, Russia pushed Crimeans – and Ukrainian Russians – to oppose EU ties. History is convoluted. Ukraine’s then-Russia-tilting leadership was corrupt, and seen as bought and sold by Russia, triggering general protests across the Ukraine.
What does all this tell you? Even in 2013, Ukraine was a divided – not unified – population, with ethnic Russians closer to Russia, and non-Russians closer to the West. Ukraine’s Russia-tilting leadership was ousted and fled to Russia. Soon afterward, Russia annexed the Crimea, leading – in time – to now.
So, what is the right answer? US and NATO forces attacking Russia, trying to end or resolve centuries of Russo-Ukrainian history? Loss of US lives, further draining of our low inventories?
Given that the US has financed the bulk of the Ukrainian war, and Russia is now supported by China and North Korean troops, the issue of Crimea is the point. Can a new administration get both parties to sit down, shut up, and stop shooting, long enough to get to some lasting peace?
Maybe, maybe not. Maybe this is so ethnically, geographically, and historically fraught – like most civil wars and “irredentist” wars (wars of annexation on belief in historical rights) – that peace talks fail.
Or maybe this is the time for mutual understanding, grudging recognition that Russia and Ukraine share a historic interest in Crimea, Sevastopol, and the Black Sea – perpetual war helps no one.
One way or the other, the idea that US weapons and personnel should be used to help Ukraine attack deep into Russia, somehow making Russia pay for its injustices, is reckless.
Ukraine – a poor, corrupt, economically devastated shell – is not going to beat Russia. NATO – which really means the US – declaring war on Russia is useless, dangerous, and stupid. Nutshell: Biden needs to sit down and be quiet, just let the next administration settle this conflict, not provoke wider war.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
Exactly..they want to make it difficult for Trump. Yet, what fools they are, they will be affected by a WAR just like the rest of us.
RBC, what things come down to is that our nation is neither prepared militarily or economically to start or be involved with any conflict around the world especially in Russia. The Biden administration severely weakened the military by cutting funds and installing left leaning and WOKE leadership in the higher echelons. Our forces are spread too thinly around the world. Biden has basically destroyed the economy with futile dreams that has filled the money pockets of the elite and there is nothing to show for it except a hollow shell. Those Blue states have also destroyed their economies by latching onto futile dreams. Pres. Trump will certainly clean up the military, but it remains to be seen if the states can get their act together with a majority of voters still be blinded by the enemy.
RBC,
Of course, Biden and his administration are trying to escalate things to bring about a larger, far more dangerous war. I view this as the Democrat Party taking a scorched earth policy in the hope of igniting multiple large-scale conflicts around the world to hopefully derail the Trump administration from being able to undo most of the destructive policies of the last 4 years under Team Biden. Democrats in D.C. are nothing if not completely transparent when it comes to their predictable strategies.
I watched the effectiveness of the single multi-warhead hyper sonic missile that Putin used on Ukraine after Ukraine fired off a barrage of ATACM missiles towards Russia. Anyone sane watching in the Pentagon or the White House would have understood that if Putin had opted to even substitute low-yield, battlefield tactical nuke warheads for the conventional warheads used (normally hyper sonic missiles have multiple high-yield nuclear warheads), there would be thousands or tens of thousands now dead in those impact areas. This was a demonstration warning shot from Putin to send a clear message to both Ukraine and the Biden administration to cease the attacks inside Russia. Team Biden is playing a very dangerous game thinking only about ways to create problems for Trump when he gets sworn in. They clearly don’t understand how their political scorched earth strategy could easily escalate to a situation that could impact them as well, if they continue this dangerous game.
Remember, it was Obama who shelved our own development of hyper-sonic missile technology that cleared the way for both Russia and China to gain a huge lead in an area where we have no effective means to shoot down hyper sonics at this time. Democrats have shelved a number of advanced U.S. weapons systems over the years, that our adversaries have now perfected and are now able to field themselves. All while we have little to no effective counter strategy and are scrambling to catch-up. All while the dangerous Democrat administration in the White House is playing a very dangerous political game.
Biden seems desperate to be remembered for the significance of his official actions and their long-lasting effects upon the nations and peoples of the world. Problem is, if this iteration of his intent is true, there will be no one left to compile and chronicle the history of his final success.
Teddy Roosevelt won the Nobel Prize for negotiating a peace in Russia’s war. It’s been non-stop militarism ever since. I hope Trump changes this.
Very simple and expected, the Democrats in DC want to make President Trump’s time in office as difficult as it can. The thing is, most of the nation has finally realized that the Democrats are totally corrupt and actually hate the citizens they want so badly to rule! Doubt that they will win back or keep their so-called loyalists with this tactic.
WHY do they even let him OUT of the house? Can’t he go back on vacation until January? Maybe he’ll surpass his almost 600 days gone by then. I just started the 922 page Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025.” Free download and so far incredibly in line with MY values. I didn’t pay much attention before election, but now I see what the left is all insanely bothered over…makes too much sense! Thank you for the history lesson RBC. It appears it does make sense for Russia to get “part” of Ukraine in exchange for a cease fire. I think the citizens of the US are really tired of spending billions in Ukraine. Are the still the most corrupt country in the world?
Proof Democrats only care about their power: nothing like a global thermonuclear war to swing votes in 2026 and 2028! Meanwhile, we ignore Chinese aggression in the South China Sea to our peril.
If all out war is declared, Biden gets to stay in office, which is his plan. Or I should say obummers plan. Let’s pray that the war threats don’t escalate
History makes a mess of things! And the U.S. is supposed to fix it? I don’t think so! Trump may succeed, but only temporarily. The world is run on money and power, and has always been corrupt. Biden enjoys egging on the danger. He should be removed or his legacy, if any, will be starting world war destruction.
Biden is selling off Arms to Inrich his friends
Biden is endangering U.S. citizens for the sole purpose of blaming Trump if war breaks out.
This ladies and gentlemen, shows how demented and evil the left is! They endanger this great nation, and its citizen’s, just to make Trump deal with it and hopefully fail. It makes no sense how they hate the United States. This land has given them everything, but destruction of our way of life is all they care about.
Stand strong conservatives! We are our only hope!
It has always been important to have knowledge of Russian history , and at a time like the present when the Democrat Party has turned out to be a party of Comrades , following communist ideology , knowledge of the strategy Russia has used and is using now is vital. Many Americans in their seventies will think of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 as an introduction to what Russia and the Soviet Union – the communists were all about. What happened then is still worth reading about. And in the spirit of putting U.S. – Russia history in perspective doing research on how Alaska became part of America after purchasing it from Russia in 1867 makes for worthwhile historic reading / research . This article by Robert B.Charles provides some truly interesting information about the Nikita Khrushchev — Georgii Malenkov situation in the 1950’s pertaining to the port of Sevastopol in Crimea on the Black Sea and the connection with having a sea lane open to the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks for this informative article RBC . Definitely Well Done ! I do hope that President Trump and members of his staff will read this important article and the right and intelligent and American approach to this Ukraine – Russia situation is implemented in 2025. With courage , strength and wisdom guiding the United States of America – a new outlook is appreciated based on respect for values , principles that are the foundation of this Constitutional Republic. With sensible foreign policy that has courage and truth and respect. for faith in God and respect for freedom.
I recall when Trump was President the Democrats and the Media all stated that Trump will start WW III. Now we know this was false. It is Biden who is the war monger. Biden should be removed from office immediately before the war in Ukraine gets out of control. Biden lacks the mental ability to make sound decisions. I am not sure Biden even knows his name (sorry about this statement but it could be true).
I hope that “the biden’s” (i.e. Obama/Soros) plans fall through. It would be just like them to do this- to further protect their interests in all of the biolabs in Ukraine. And who knows what else? I hope and pray that their crass stupidity is stopped – by whatever divine or earthly means. It’s time to reveal ALL the perfidy, lies and chicanery of this outgoing (fake) administration.
PLEASE STOP THE DEMOCRAT’S FROM DESTROYING THE WORLD. TAKE BACK COMMEN SENSE AS THE AS THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD.
I find myself hoping NATO goes to war against Russia. This will lead to NATOS swift defeat and then perhaps huge tragedies NATO has instigated over the years will finally cease. And the puppet master of NATO, the good ole USA will finally face a peer competitor on the battlefield and get the ass whipping it deserves. America might then use the “defense” portion of its “defense budget” for proper usage.