How frozen are Eastern Europe’s ‘frozen conflicts’? You’ve probably heard the term ‘frozen conflict’ being used, but does it really capture what’s happening on the ground? Technically, the phrase is used to describe places where fighting has taken place and has come to an end, but where there is currently no peace treaty or formal political solution in place.
So-called frozen conflicts are particularly prevalent in parts of the former Soviet Union where modern-day Russia still has (or wishes to have) significant influence. As well as Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh, many experts considered Crimea, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk in South-Eastern Ukraine, to be such frozen conflicts.
Are we heading for a new reality in the post-Soviet sphere? Following the launch of Putin’s all-out war on Ukraine, the terminology of ‘frozen conflicts’ has come into question. Indeed, many are worried whether the war could now spread and ‘unfreeze’ some of these conflicts.
Reason enough for Debating Europe to ask young citizens about their thoughts. We talked to Mar, junior expert in peace, security, and defence at Friends of Europe; Jules, currently living and working in Kosovo, another example of a frozen conflict, and Mariami, from Georgia.
Curious to hear what they have to say? Find out why Jules rejects the term ‘frozen conflict’; see what Mar contributes to the renewed debate on EU membership for states suffering from frozen conflicts; have a listen to Mariami’s elaboration on increased military spending in many EU countries and how this might impact the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
Click on the video above for this and much more food for thought.
Will the War in Ukraine Restart ‘Frozen Conflicts’ in Eastern Europe? Do you agree with the opinions voiced in the video? Or do you see it entirely different? What comes to your mind when you hear of frozen conflicts? Are you concerned? Share your thoughts with us in the form below and we will take them to experts and policymakers to get a reaction!
PHOTO CREDIT: European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia Facebook page
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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Another speciation?
It will depend on how this conflict will eventually end!
Only the experts and policymakers know. I have no idea, no bet! Will Mr Putin win, lose, be disposed or be driven to invite Armageddon & which opportunist will strike next?
Tragic, if Z= for truth, V= for victory- both & humanity are the victims, a “scorched earth policy” a possible outcome, only losers, what an improper inhuman rage, the human losses, centuries of creativity has gone & un- thinkable sufferings thereafter!
Mr Putin is obviously imagining himself as a neo- Crusader & defender of his “motherland Russia”, the successor of the former KGB ruled USSR Empire & a neo-Potemkin magician.
Deranged into a Russian mega- despot & Oligarch in his own league, fighting all sorts of imaginary creatures like all neo-Nazis, all despised western imperialists, all his critics, plus God knows whom else- just unpredictable!
By mixing his KGB experience, political power, idolising the past, the USSR, Catherine the Great, myth, lies & facts- poisoning & imprisoning competitors as any manic depressed person would do and allowed to do. For how long?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Empress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noqlx0B6evo
[PHOTO] https://external.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQEpnDUQgp3AMp2s&w=396&h=222&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fnoqlx0B6evo%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&ext=emg0&_nc_oe=6fd1e&_nc_sid=06c271&ccb=3-5&_nc_hash=AQH1vcILGaKHMvax
https://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2022/03/22/oorlog-in-oekraine-is-de-vrede-nabij/
[PHOTO] https://external.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQH7zffONnHkDdCS&w=396&h=222&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dewereldmorgen.be%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F03%2FUkrainian_President_alongside_Putin.png&ext=emg0&_nc_oe=6fd1d&_nc_sid=06c271&ccb=3-5&_nc_hash=AQFZMmWMf-REOvSS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkC9mZgaLDI
[PHOTO] https://external.fxds1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQHNHlxxXReSsjXo&w=396&h=222&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FbkC9mZgaLDI%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&ext=emg0&_nc_oe=6fd1d&_nc_sid=06c271&ccb=3-5&_nc_hash=AQHD-XZP4j5bjbG_
Russia who fight against liberalism and the American world village should not be treated as an ennemy
Estonian Russophones are boiling…
you spelled “Russian population still inhabiting Estonia, unwilling either to return to Russia or to integrate with their country of residence” wrong
explain me ?
explain? The old colonial politics of Russia, concerning not only Lithuania, Lettonia, Estonia but also among others Ukraine or Poland, even East Germany. Russians were sent to take all important positions, as many as the “mother Russia” could spare, local population treated as inferiour in every way, Russian language compulsory. I can understand those people and their children are not motivated to return to Russia. What I cannot understand it’s why they are not willing to become speakers of the local language, why they are unwilling to integrate. Do they really want another occupation of their respective countries?
Putin appeared to be using the same strategy of the American president Kennedy in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The discriminatory attitude towards Ukraine and Russia’s demand to join NATO and EU is perceived as a threat to national security of Russia is indisputable. When EU has to act as the adjudicator, it has chosen to back up member states and neighbours, equally on Lithuanian’s recent conflict with China and basing on BBC fake news on Xinjiang to impose sanctions. If we can simply apply normative values for all decision making even harming European interest, what is the purpose of putting so many representatives in the parliament? A computer programme can serve the same purpose.
si pour vous Poutine agit comme Kennedy.ila devant lui un tout autre homme.helas.
moi pas comprendre
Russia wants to destroy NATO. Not be part of it. Putin hates NATO. He holds NATO responsible for the demise of the Sowjet Republic. In 1949 NATO was formed, because communist regimes were threatening to invade independent and free Western neighbouring countries. Specially the Russian agressian and will for expansion was clear. In no way Putin copies Kennedy: Kennedy did not invade any neighbour of Russia. Russia and Cuba were planning to install rockets on Cuba. Ships transporting those rockets were underway. Before taking the decision to demand that those ships would return and installations, like launch platforms etc., should be removed. Kennedy and Croetchof had several talks. Mostly by phone. When Croetchof wanted to push through, Kennedy ordered to make public all the pics of the launch platforms and ships with the rockets. The next was an ultimatum and Kennedy too an enormous, unnecessary risk. He refused to negotiate about the US rocket installations in Turkey etc.. which was very stupid, because already NATO had decided to dismantle those launch installations. Its more thanks to Croetchof and the Secretary of State Dean Rusk, that thiscrisis didnot become a disaster. Kennedy got the credits for the ‘firm’ attitude. But it was reallythe wisdom of two other men that solved the crisis. Kennedy deliberately humiliated Croetchof. This has still a negative influence on todays political climate.
Biden and Obama both have the same arrogance.. and also made the same mistakes to the Russian leaders. Putin did never forget this arrogance. So he has no respect for the West. This mistakes of US presidents to insult other world leaders, make our world less safe. It makes the chance that some day, someone will launch nuclear devices only more probable. In contrary to what we think, Russians and Ukrainians have always been very close. Like brothers. If Ukraine choses to be a democratic, European country. Despite their past with Russia.. that will be terrible for a narcistic leader like Putin. He will feel betrayed, wants to punish Ukraine. Next will be other former Sowjet allies: Russia feels they need to be thankful for liberating them from the Nazis! So now inhis rethoric he uses the argument: free Ukraine from the Nazis. Which of course is not true. But for Putin, we are the Nazis, in his eyes wewant to destroy Russia. Partly he is right ofcourse. We want to get rid of the autocrate mess Putin made of Russia. We want to install a democracy everywhere. Russia in former times though, was a very powerfull nation. And Russians would love to have a ‘Great Russia’ again. Putin almost succeeded: Trump was and is his ideal ‘mate’. Through Trump he could have divided NATO and Trump saw himself already dressed in lace and mink, like the tsar of America. So if you want more poverty, more injustice in the US = vote for Trump, king of the retards. Putin would enjoy and feel great, Trump as a puppet president, US as a Sowjet state. Totally dependent of the world power Russia. That is your future with el Trumpo, the Donaldo, the sucker you made president before a courageousman like Biden took o the job.
It is not about Kyiv holding strong but about when Europe would stop fueling the war, when Europe can recall the two devastating great wars, as we seen the third world war would be a nuclear war of mutual destruction. Europe better join to negotiate for peace.
It will start WW3 if this is what Nato wants.
More concerned over the aggressive actions of the US and NATO, particularly in Ukraine where currently they are handing out high tech weapons to neo-nazis.
and I am more concerned about NATO and EU not doing enough in Ukraine, a free democratic country that was invaded by Russia. And forget about nazis. The only one nazis is ruzzzia and ruzzzian solders
Nazis are in Putin’s and Russians heads, not in reality! Cheap excuses for barbarism and atrocities!
So innocent people dying in Ukraine by you are neo-nazis?
Pavlov would be proud of your answers.
It’s hard to take you seriously any longer 🤷♂️
I’m more concern with the expansion of a brain-dead war machine NATO. Russia care about the lives of Russian people but NATO has no people/national. The American care nothing about Europeans.