Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
The crisis of Ukraine although derived from some regional roots, has involved the trans-regional powers in the events of Russian borders. As a regional power, Russia wants to protect and enhance its role in the former Soviet Union realm, but this aim is opposed and resisted by some actors such as Ukraine. On the other perspective we are witnessing that the west could not interfere in the region and could not challenge the role of Russia without national and regional backgrounds.
However, the reaction of the west to the Russian actions in Ukraine has imposed some costs on Moscow. With continuing instability in Ukraine, Moscow pursues bargaining with the west and emphasizes on its important role in other crisis regions. This article addresses the question that whether the current tension between Russia and the west would lead to an international confrontation or would the crisis of Ukraine lead to a trans-regional crisis? This article argues that in spite of trans-regional consequences of disagreement on Ukraine, the Ukrainian crisis is essentially a regional issue and that the dimensions of this crisis are regionally manageable.
Furthermore in spite of clash of interests between Russia and the west over Ukraine because of Russia's need to west for establishing the conditions of revitalizing its great power position and thanks to pragmatism of Moscow, a longstanding tension and a new cold war between Russia and the west can be prevented and the conversion of a regional crisis to a trans-regional conflict can be avoided.
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