Ukraine seeks to calm the anxieties of the mostly Russian population in Crimea, while Russia seeks stable naval basing arrangements there. Denis Corboy, William Courtney, and Kenneth Yalowitz write:

The Black Sea is a cradle of civilization, trade and cultures, but today it is also a region of unresolved conflicts, porous borders and rivalries.Terrorism and insurgency are spreading across the North Caucasus, abetted by fighters from the Middle East and South Asia. Everything from narcotics from Afghanistan to supplies for Iran’s nuclear program are smuggled through the region. Georgia remains tense since the 2008 war with Russia; separatists threaten hostilities in the regions of Nagorno-Karabakh and Trans-Dniestr. Read the rest of the story here.