On 24 February, Russia launched a full-fledged attack on its neighbour Ukraine. This is the result of the fraught relations of Kyiv with Moscow since Ukraine got independence from The Soviet Union in 1991.
The Russo-Ukrainian war started in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea province. The invasion has caused irreversible damage to the countries previously belonging to the former USSR. Putin’s military operation on its southwestern neighbour has further accelerated the tensions.
Let’s look at the events that led to such bitter relations among two children of the same parent.
1991- After the chaos following the dissolution of the USSR, one of its founding members, Ukraine, got independence. It chose to opt for a unitary republic form of governance under a semi-presidential system with separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and the judiciary.
Ukraine decided to be a neutral state. It formed military relations with Russia and other CIS [Commonwealth of state] countries. The CIS had its roots in the former Soviet Union.
1994- Ukraine established a partnership of peace with NATO. Then US president Bill Clinton called it a “track that will lead to NATO membership.”
2004- Viktor Yanukovych wins the elections. The allegations of vote-rigging led to the orange revolution. Re-elections take place, and pro-western candidate Yuschenko is elected as president.
2005- Yuschenko takes power. He promised to take Ukraine towards the NATO and the European Union out of the Kremlin’s order.
2008- NATO promises that one day Ukraine will join the alliance one day for sure.
2010- Pro-Russian Victor Yanukovych wins the presidential elections.
2013- Yanukovych government revived ties with Moscow and broke associations with the EU. This triggers mass protests in Kyiv.
Feb 2014- Ukrainian parliament passes an order to remove Yanukovych after the violence in the protests. Soon armed men seized the parliament in Crimea. Following an armed invasion, Russia annexed Crimea, considering it an inseparable part of Moscow.
April 2014- Pro Russian separatists marched and declared independence in the Eastern Region of Donbas. According to Ukraine Government data, nearly 15000 people have been killed in combats between separatists and the Ukrainian Army since the Donbas war of 2014.
2017- An agreement is signed between Ukraine and the EU. This opens the market for free trade and Visa-free travel for Ukrainians to the European Union.
2019- Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comic actor, is elected president in Ukraine.
Jan 2021- Zelenskiy requests US President Biden to make Ukraine a NATO member. In February, his government froze the assets of the Kremlin’s most prominent ally in Ukraine, opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk.
Spring 2021- In the name of military training, Russia started massing troops on the Ukrainian border.
Nov 2021- Satellite images taken by Maxar technologies shows the accumulation of approximately 100,000 Russian troops on the Ukraine border.
Dec 2021- Russia presents security demands, including the withdrawal of NATO forces. He asked NATO to stop eastward expansion.
24 January 2022- NATO puts forces on standby. It reinforces eastern Europe with an increased number of troops.
26 January 2022- America responds to Russia’s security demands citing NATO’s ‘open-door policy. Russia informed that this statement had not addressed its demands.
Feb 2022- Amid fears of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the US promises to send additional troops in NATO Poland and Romania. Washington clarified that it would not send troops to Ukraine.
21 February 2022- Putin calls its an essential part of their history and said it has puppet rule under foreign countries. He recognised his peacekeeping forces as independent and sent them to two eastern its regions.
22 February- Western Allies sanction Russian Parliamentary members In response to sending troops. Germany halted Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
23 February 2022- Pro Russian Separatists leaders in Ukraine ask Putin to help them against the aggression of the Ukrainian army
24 February 2022- Putin authorises a special military operation to invade Ukraine. Russian army started striking significant cities of Ukraine.
26 February 2022- Western allies sanctions Russia economically. Top Russian banks excluded from SWIFT global payment gateway.
Edited By- Kiran Maharana
Published By- Pawan Rajput
