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 Why is there a war in Ukraine?

In 2014, Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and entered forces with eastern Ukraine. Since then, parts of Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhansk have been controlled by Russian-backed separatists with close economic and military ties to Moscow. These are the two areas that Russian President Vladimir Putin has now recognized as independent. He has argued that Russia needs to defend these areas against Ukrainian attacks, which he claims are getting worse.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

Putin wants to stop NATO's expansion to the east and ensure that Ukraine remains in the Russian sphere of interest. He has demanded promises that neither Ukraine nor other countries, such as Sweden, will join NATO. He also wants the United States and NATO to withdraw weapons systems from several Eastern European countries, which he believes pose a threat to Russia.

The war in Ukraine - the background in nine stages

1. In the winter of 2013–2014, Ukraine was shaken by growing protests against the then strongly pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych refusing to sign a cooperation agreement with the EU.

2.The president's violent attempt to quell the demonstrations caused great outrage and led to his escape to Russia in February 2014. The entire power elite was replaced and a new government, appointed by protest activists, was appointed. That the pro-Western opposition took power, in turn, angered Russian-dominated Crimea.

3.Russia used this to direct a revolt and take control of the peninsula with soldiers in unmarked uniforms. This occupation soon turned into illegal annexation. Prior to that, a referendum was held, in which a majority of the population claimed to want to belong to Russia instead of Ukraine. The referendum was not recognized by Ukraine or the West.

4.For the first time since World War II, a European state had thus conquered part of another country. The reactions of the outside world were strong: Russia was accused of violating international law and several international agreements.

5.A similar process soon took place in the Russian-dominated Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Government buildings in cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv counties were occupied by armed men with the support of Russian forces. Kharkiv managed to retain control of Ukraine, but in Donetsk and Luhansk separatists staged "referendums" on independence from Ukraine.

6.Parts of the two counties today function as breakaway republics, with close links to Russia. At the front line, there are regular clashes between Russian-backed local militias and the Ukrainian army. Russia has steadfastly denied involvement in Donetsk and Luhansk and considers itself fully entitled to Crimea, citing the referendum. However, the EU and the US do not see the peninsula as Russian and have contracts with economic sanctions against a large number of Russian and Ukrainian politicians, the military and companies. By the end of 2021, more than 13,000 people had been killed in the conflict, including thousands of civilians.

7.In November 2021, Russia began to gather large troops along the Ukrainian border. The United States warned that a Russian invasion was imminent, but Russia denied it.

8.On Monday, February 21, Vladimir Putin recognized the Ukrainian territories of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent and sent what he called peacekeeping forces there.

9.On Thursday, February 24, Russian forces launched a major offensive against the whole of Ukraine.

(Source: AP / TT)