Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: What was the Reason?

In early 2021, tensions between Russia and Ukraine, both part of the ex-Soviet republic, began to spiral out of control. Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked US President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join *NATO. As early as December, the Americans began hyping Russia's deployment of troops, and President Biden called for severe sanctions against Russia if it invaded Ukraine. As a result, Russia has demanded that NATO should not conduct any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Russian leader Putin argues that Ukraine is a Western puppet and has never been a proper state. This is not the first-time tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a boiling point. Since 2014, Russia has been fighting the Ukrainian army in Eastern Ukraine when rebels backed by President Putin captured large tracts of the country. In those days, Russia annexed Crimea. A former Soviet state, Ukraine has deep social and cultural ties with Russia, and the Russian language is widely spoken there.

However, those relations have deteriorated since Russia invaded the country in 2014. Early in 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was overthrown, Russia attacked. Since the conflict began in the East, more than 14,000 lives have been lost. A peace deal signed by Russia and Ukraine to end armed conflict in East Ukraine, including the Donbass region, was supposed to end the conflict. However, Russia reports it is sending "peacekeepers" to the region where the conflict is brewing because of the tension. Russia is using it as a smokescreen so that it can occupy the sovereign territory of Ukraine, the West argues.

The rising tension between Russia and Ukraine, which shares a border with the European Union, has ramifications for the European Union. That is why the EU has joined the US in announcing penalties against Russian firms, the majority of which are NATO signatories. Only a few weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate tensions. And India has advocated for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Russian-Ukraine situation.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Ashida A.P 

Assistant Professor of Commerce 

Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Keezhatur