The problem of the Crimea has since 1991 played a crucial and central
role in relations between the Ukraine, striving for consolidation of i
ts newly gained sovereignty and the Russian Federation, trying to limi
t the damages caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Two conflict
s in the area have marked these relations and have, contrary to the Ru
ssian expectations, contributed to a kind of emancipation of the young
Ukrainian state. These two were the conflict between the Russian majo
rity in the Crimea and the conflict between the Russian Federation and
Ukraine on the division of the Black Sea Fleet that has been perceive
d by both parties as a strategic asset and even more as an important b
argaining chip. This article is an attempt to show how these two confl
icts have been interlocked and how they have been influencing relation
s between the two most important European successors of the Soviet Uni
on. The two states involved have embarked on two different and basical
ly conflicting strategies of tackling the problems caused by the colla
pse of the Soviet Union. Russia has many times shown that it perceives
itself as a legitimate heir of the Soviet empire and has reserved the
right to treat the post-Soviet space as its exclusive sphere of influ
ence. The Ukraine treated the collapse of the Soviet Union as an oppor
tunity to first claim and then consolidate the country's sovereignty.
This conflict of interests has resulted in many tensions in relations
between the two countries and the Crimea has very often been one of th
is conflict's main arenas and one of the main bones of contention.