Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2014

The Ukraine Crisis and the Resumption of Great-Power Rivalry

Dmitri Trenin

July 2014

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

The Ukraine crisis that erupted in early 2014 has brought an end to the post–Cold War status quo in Europe. Russia, feeling betrayed by its Western partners because of their support for regime change in Kiev, has stepped forward to protect its vital interests—which the West saw as aggression by a revisionist power. The ensuing conflict will last long and have an impact far beyond Europe.