The tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to rise. Putin has recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, ordering Russian troops to enter those regions to “keep the peace.” The territory has been in conflict since 2014: these are the key dates.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, ordering Russian troops to enter those regions to “keep the peace.” Tension between Russia and Ukraine in Donbas has persisted since April 2014. Eight years of tension have caused more than 14,000 deaths on both sides, according to the UN. These are the key dates of the conflict.
2014. On March 20, the Duma or Lower House of the Russian Parliament annexes Crimea to Russia, after the referendum on the political status of the peninsula of crimea. Parallel to the Crimean crisis, in April pro-Russian protesters seize the administration headquarters in several cities in eastern Ukraine: Donetsk, Kharkov, Lugansk, Slaviansk and Górlovka, among others.
On May 12, the Donetsk and Lugansk regions self-proclaim their independence and they ask to join Russia, after a referendum held between combats and without international observers.
With the intention of consolidating the end of the conflict, Russia, Ukraine and the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk sign the Protocol of Minsk on September 5, implementing an immediate ceasefire. However, the pacifist aspirations of the pact will be repeatedly violated.
2015. Efforts continue to alleviate the war in Donbas through the Minsk II agreement of February 12, which requests a new ceasefire “immediate and complete”. Even the new negotiations fail due to the subsequent violations of the agreed ceasefire. Months later, in October, the heads of state of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany hold a summit in Paris, to carry out the withdrawal of weapons from both sides.
2018. The pro-Russian leaders Denis pushilin (Donetsk) and Leonid Passechik (Lugansk) win the elections in their respective regions. Ukraine considers those elections illegal.
2019. On April 21, Volodymyr Zelensky defeats Poroshenko in the second round of the Ukrainian presidential elections. At the end of the year, Russia and Ukraine resume negotiations to achieve peace in Donbas; Putin and Zelensky agree on a timetable for it.
2021. In April, Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of mobilizing a large number of troops on the border for a possible offensive. In August, 46 states and organizations, including NATO, sign the Crimean Platform in Kiev, in which the West demands that Russia return the Ukrainian peninsula. Tension resurfaces when Ukraine bombs a Russian town with a drone. Putin responds by sending 100,000 soldiers to the border.
2022. Russia sends troops to neighboring Belarus for joint exercises near the Ukrainian border. Days later, Ukraine responds to Russian military pressure with maneuvers throughout its territory. Russia announces the withdrawal of some troops near the border with Ukraine.
The Duma demands to recognize the separatist republics on February 15. A week later, Putin recognizes the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk, and orders Russian troops to break into those regions to “keep the peace.” For their part, the European partners of the UN Security Council have announced at an emergency meeting that they will issue sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow sending troops to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
Source: Eitb
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