Russia-Ukraine Conflict: The Emergence of New Geopolitical Rivalry in Eurasia

Aim: The crisis in Ukraine has become a pivotal event in the resurgence of geopolitical rivalry in Eurasia. Following the end of the Cold War, NATO began its eastward expansion, which raised deep security concerns for Russia. The dissolution of the Soviet Union transitioned the world from a bipolar to a unipolar structure, creating a power vacuum in Eurasia that allowed external players to intervene in the region. The primary objective of this study is to understand NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe, particularly focusing on geopolitical rivalry between Russia and United States and its implications for Russia after 1990. Methods: This research employs qualitative method. It focused on thoughts, behaviors, and social contexts to examine the Ukraine crisis from a geopolitical perspective. The main aim is to determine when NATO's expansion into Eastern European countries began. Results: From Russia's perspective, the Ukraine crisis is viewed as a proxy war aimed at containing Russian influence. This research identifies, that the crisis in Ukraine has been started since 1990 with the expansion of NATO to Eastern European countries. Conclusion: The main parties that could be held responsible are the United States, Russia, EU and NATO. Recommendation: The study recommends that diplomatic efforts should be made by both sides to address Russia’s security concerns and reconsider NATOs expansion to Eastern European countries. This will help to reach peace and de-escalate the current conflict.