They support it with the slogan “the right to self-determination.” Ukraine’s “geopolitics” are behind the West’s alignment against Russia

In its support for Ukraine, the West talks about its right to self-determination and sovereignty in the face of “Russian ambitions”, but great economic and political interests are motivating it to support the state with a strategic location and industrial and agricultural capabilities.

KIEV - It

is no secret that Ukraine is currently Westernized;

It seeks membership in both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and demands the support of the West in general in the face of what it describes as "Russian ambitions and threats" in the region and the European continent.

The West's response to Ukrainian demands comes under the umbrella of "supporting the right of self-determination, sovereignty, territorial integrity, reforms, liberties, etc." as a neighbor or ally seeking a place in the "civilized democratic world of the West".

It may also be true to talk about great economic interests of the West in Ukraine, as it is a country with huge industrial, agricultural and human potential, and a profitable consumer market.

But the game of politics pushes the question and search for hidden interests, which push the West to support Ukraine, in varying forms, and according to the changing times and facts on the ground, starting from condemning Moscow, even preparing for war with it.

NATO ships conduct military exercises with Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea during the month of March 2021 (Agencies)

On the territory of Ukraine and in its waters... Is the West crawling to threaten Russia?

The first interests that Russia frequently talks about is that the West's support for Ukraine aims in fact to "crawl" towards its borders, and to threaten it more, if necessary;

Especially since Ukraine is a large border country, which many describe as the "Russian flank" or the "back garden" that Moscow does not accept to give up.

"There is no such thing as the Ukrainian crisis, but the reality is the Russian-Western crisis, and Ukraine is nothing but a battlefield and its repercussions only," says Ihor Hogva, editor-in-chief of the opposition website Strana (Al-Balad), which was closed down by the Ukrainian authorities a few months ago.

Hogva adds - to Al Jazeera Net - "After 2014, this conflict moved from political accusations and warnings to the security phase. Russia - by occupying the Crimea and the Donbass region - has become a greater military threat to Ukraine and other countries in the region."

And the West - led by NATO - with its weapons and periodic maneuvers in the waters and territories of Ukraine responds to this serious threat, and in turn poses a threat to Russia close to its western and southwestern borders, according to Hogva.

Is it a war of attrition for Russia and its influence?

But many rule out a large-scale war by direct friction or by proxy, and see the situation as a cold war, in which the West's interest is to exhaust and weaken Russia.

Hogva says that because of Ukraine's geographical location, its bid for NATO membership, and the latter's response to these endeavors;

Russia is forced to direct its interests to Ukraine before any other issue or region, politically, economically and militarily, and to always be "on alert".

The editor-in-chief believes that the stability of the situation in Ukraine, or even the freezing of the conflict in it - as was the case from the end of 2015 until last April - unleashed Russia to expand its spheres of influence;

We saw it interfering in Syria, in Libya, and in other regions, and working on huge projects;

Which, of course, did not appeal to the West.

The Nord Stream 2 project to transport Russian gas, in which the United States and Ukraine see a major geopolitical threat to Europe, enables Russia to control energy and prices and reduces America's economic opportunities there (Getty Images)

What is the US position on Ukraine and the Russian threat?

In the context of limiting influence as well, the US position stands out by its opposition to any Russian-European rapprochement, and any major Russian economic interests in Europe that pose a "geopolitical" threat to the allies.

The director of the Center for Democratic Initiatives in Kiev, Oleksiy Haran, says that Europe has grown tired of the estrangement with Russia over the past 8 years, and during Trump's rule, the European head of the pyramid (Germany and France) pushed towards a partial normalization of relations with Moscow, "hoping to ease the burdens of estrangement." and repercussions of sanctions and counter-sanctions.

Haran added - to Al Jazeera Net - "Biden came with a policy different from his previous counterpart, and worked hard to rebuild trust with the Europeans and his allies in NATO, and also worked to warn of the danger of the 'Nord Stream 2' project to transport Russian gas, which the United States and Ukraine see as a threat. A major geopolitical influence over Europe enables Russia to control the energy supply and prices, and limits the size of the United States’ opportunities in the European gas market.”

Haran believes that Europe is putting Russia today in the category of hostility and threat, "and this is a success for America, and as a result of Russia's recklessness and arrogance in dealing with Ukraine and issues of energy, immigration, and others."

With the Ukraine card, does the West seek to block any alliance between Russia and China?

While the United States leads a Western camp against the growing global influence of China, observers believe that the crisis in neighboring Ukraine is the best way to pressure Moscow and discourage it from any strategic alliance with Beijing.

However, although this proposition is theoretically logical, there are those who find it difficult to achieve, including Oleksiy Haran, who believes that "Russia is going on this path, and considers it a means to pressure the West, and to end America's hegemony over the world as a stronger pole."

How do neighboring countries view the conflict in Ukraine?

Ukraine's neighbors - especially the Baltic states, as well as Romania and Georgia - do not hide their fears that Russia will advance further into the Ukrainian depth, and that it will be a later target for the Kremlin regime that wants to restore the glories of the former Soviet Union, as many see.

Thus, it is in the interests of these countries to support Ukraine, to be a wall in the face of "Russia's ambitions" in the region, so to speak.

This may explain the existence of alliances and regional maneuvers between them outside the framework of the European Union and NATO.

The situation of the Muslim Crimean Tatars and the limitation of Russia’s influence in the northern Black Sea push Turkey to align itself with Ukraine (Al-Jazeera)

What are the interests of Turkey to strongly support Ukraine?

In Ukrainian affairs, interests that have occupied Turkey since 2014, and related to the Black Sea basin, and the conditions and rights of the Muslim Crimean Tatars, which it considers an ethnic extension of the occupied peninsula, stand out.

And the Tatars - because of their stances against the "Russian occupation", and according to human rights organizations - are targeted with repression and persecution by the Russian authorities.

Ankara, which Kiev considers a "strategic partner", does not recognize the Crimea, and adheres to the defense of the Tatars, as part of what it calls "support for the unity and sovereignty of Ukraine over its entire territory."

According to Haran, it is also in Turkey's interest to cooperate with Ukraine to limit the growth of Russia's influence in the northern Black Sea region, in order to ensure the security of its northern borders in the future, knowing that Russian forces are present in Syria - originally southern Turkey - in addition to the interests of the continuation of safe navigation and trade. At sea, even gas exploration.