How the conflict between Russia and Ukraine originated

After several weeks of fear and uncertainty, this Thursday, February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats about the start of a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine, specifically in Donbass. His decision was based on the threat Kiev poses to his country. After what was expressed by the president, attacks were reported on a dozen Ukrainian cities and at least the death of more than a hundred people.

MORE INFORMATION: Putin launches a war against Ukraine that the West saw coming, but could not stop

After the bombings and attacks, the head of state of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, broke off diplomatic relations with Russia and announced that his government will deliver weapons to all citizens who are willing to defend their homeland.

“Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the years of World War II (…). Today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on the path of evil, but Ukraine defends itself (…). We don’t need any war, not cold, not hot, not hybrid, but if the troops attack us, we will defend ourselves. If they attack us, they will see our faces, not our backs.”he pointed.

As a result of what has been happening, the G-7 (Group of Seven), made up of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, will take a series of measures and sanctions against Moscow. But what has caused the conflict between Russia and Ukraine? Coming up next, we tell you.

WHAT CAUSED THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE?

Although the attacks taking place in various Ukrainian cities suggest that the ghost of the Cold War is haunting and it seems that it is here to stay, there are many who wonder what caused this conflict. As well, Russia’s anger aroused after the approach of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the European Union to Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, which is considered by Putin to be part of his identity and his space of influenceso its control is of vital importance for your safety.

“Let me once again emphasize that Ukraine for us is not just a neighboring country. It is an integral part of our own history, culture, spiritual space. [Por tanto] the expansion of NATO and the military development of the territory of Ukraine by the Alliance is unacceptable to Russia”noted the head of the Kremlin.

To understand more about this conflict, which leaves desolate places and a large number of deaths, we must go back in time, to 2014, in order to recount what happened between the two nations.

When did the conflict between Russia and Ukraine start?

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict dates back to 2014which had several stages, but focuses on Crimea’s accession to Russia, after a referendum in the former Soviet republic, which was accused of fraud by obtaining 97% of votes in favor to incorporate it into the Kremlin; fact that provoked the rejection and ignorance of the international community that imposed sanctions.

That same year, another conflict broke out in the Ukrainian region of Donbass, made up of Donetsk and Lugansk, self-proclaimed “people’s republics” that demand integration with Russia.. This is how in eastern Ukraine armed clashes take place between pro-Russian separatists, politically and militarily supported by Moscow, and the Ukrainian Army. Something that to date continues and it would become the seed for the current tension.

Are they starting a peace process?

In December 2019, the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodímir Zelenski, respectively, agree to resume the peace process in Ukraine, for which they carry out the exchange of 200 prisoners.

Despite the agreements, weeks later Russia moved a large number of troops to its borders with Ukraine and to the Crimean peninsulawhich lasted several months, something that had only been seen since the annexation of Crimea.

In the presence of Russian troops, in August 2021, a total of 46 states and organizations such as NATO signed the Crimean Platform in Kiev. In it they demanded from Russia the return of the Ukrainian peninsula.

The US anticipates that Moscow is preparing an invasion for 2022

In early December 2021, the United States signaled that Moscow was preparing an invasion of Ukraine for “early 2022.” Given the alert, the European Union threatens Russia with “enormous sanctions” if it invades that country.

Russia announces military maneuvers

On January 11 and 12, 2022, two meetings are held in Geneva with representatives of the United States and Russia, and NATO and Moscow, but no agreements are reached. Thus, they report that Russians will carry out military maneuvers in the south of their nation, the Caucasus and Crimea.

Given this, on January 14, 2022, the US warns that Russia is planning a “false flag attack” against its own troops to attribute it to Ukraine. Likewise, a massive cyberattack occurred that disabled the Ukrainian government’s computer system for hours.

Four days later, Russia sends troops to Belarus, so on January 24, the US State Department orders the relatives of diplomats from its Embassy in Kiev to leave that country in the face of a possible Russian invasion. The same asks of his fellow citizens.

provoke the fury of Russia

After the United States and NATO refused, on February 3, 2022, to sign a bilateral treaty on security in Europe with Russia and close the door to a future incorporation of Ukraine into the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), Moscow got angry and the idea of ​​putting an end to the crisis was on the ground.

After that, authorities from different countries ask their citizens to leave Ukraine in the face of the almost imminent conflict that is about to start.

They blame themselves for the attacks in Donbass

Attacks take place in front of the Donbass region, but who provoked them is not determined, since the Ukrainian government and Russian separatists blame each other.

It was during the armed fire that a kindergarten in the city of Stanytsia Luganska, in Lugansk, three civilians were injured. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Army reported another 47 attacks at various points.

Russia sends Russian troops to Donetsk and Luhansk

Four days later, Putin recognizes the pro-Russian Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, and also calls for Russian troops to be sent to the area.

On February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin announces a “special military operation”, assuring that he is doing it to “demilitarize” Ukraine, but not to occupy it.