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Savryga K.P. Ukrainian crisis and international law: armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and secession of Crimea

Abstract:  The international Ukrainian crisis, which started in February of 2014, consists of several components; first of all, it is an armed conflict on the territory of a number of eastern regions of Ukraine, and secession of the Republic of Crimea from Ukraine and its subsequent annexation to the Russian Federation. This article examines the questions of possible international legal qualifications of armed conflicts on the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as the issue of possible grounds for Crimean secession from Ukraine. And finally, basing on the official point of view of Ukrainian government, we will attempt to determine which methods of legal defense Ukraine can receive within the framework of the current system of international law. As a result, the author concludes that the conflict in the southeast of Ukraine can represent an international character regardless of direct involvement of members of the Russian armed forces. As to the secession of Crimea, the author concludes that acknowledgement of the legality of its independence under the current circumstances depends on acknowledgement of the government, which is more of a political rather than legal issue. Even in the case of confirmed international armed conflict and act of aggression from the Russian Federation, the modern international law does not contain effective means of protection of the victim country.


Keywords:

recognition of government, state responsibility, right to self-determination, unilateral declaration of independence, armed conflict, Crimean crisis, Armed conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian crisis, act of aggression, international law


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