What Is the Russia-Ukraine Conflict?
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a long-running political, territorial and military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
To understand how this conflict reached its current stage, we need to look at what happened after Ukraine became independent in 1991, how its relationship with Russia changed, and why its ties with Europe and Western countries became more important over time.
Two major turning points came in 2014, when the conflict around Crimea and Donbas began, and in 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale military operation in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia Before 1991
Before 1991, Russia and Ukraine were both part of the Soviet Union (USSR).
Russia’s official name as a Soviet republic was the Russian SFSR (RSFSR).
Ukraine’s official name was the Ukrainian SSR.
They were separate Soviet republics, but both were part of the same country — the Soviet Union.
Ukraine Became Independent in 1991
In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, and Ukraine became an independent country.
On December 1, 1991, Ukrainians voted in a referendum, with about 92% voting for independence.
After becoming independent, Ukraine had to build its own political and economic relationships. At the same time, it still had long-standing historical, cultural and economic connections with Russia.
Why Did Ukraine’s Relationship With the West Become Important?
After becoming independent in 1991, Ukraine had to decide how closely it wanted to maintain its traditional relationship with Russia and how much it wanted to develop its relationship with Europe and Western institutions.
Over time, this became an important political issue inside Ukraine.
People in Ukraine had different views about the country’s future direction. Russia, meanwhile, saw developments around Ukraine and NATO as an important security issue.
These different interests gradually became part of the growing tensions between Russia, Ukraine and Western countries.
What Happened in Ukraine in 2013–2014?
In 2013, the Ukrainian government under President Viktor Yanukovych decided not to sign a planned Association Agreement with the European Union. The agreement was meant to strengthen Ukraine’s political and economic relationship with the EU.
Following the decision, large protests began in Kyiv. These protests became known as the Euromaidan protests.
The situation became more violent in early 2014. In February 2014, President Viktor Yanukovych left Ukraine and went to Russia. The Ukrainian Parliament then established a new government.
These events created a major political crisis in Ukraine and were followed by major changes in the country’s relationship with Russia.
Crimea: Why Did It Become a Major Issue?
Crimea has a complicated history when it comes to Russia and Ukraine.
In 1954, Crimea was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. At that time, both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Crimea remained part of independent Ukraine.
In 2014, following the political crisis in Ukraine, Russian forces took control of Crimea. A referendum was then held on joining Russia, but its result was not internationally recognized. Russia later claimed to annex Crimea, while Ukraine and most of the international community did not recognize the annexation.
The events in Crimea became one of the major turning points in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
What Happened in Donbas?
The conflict did not stop with Crimea.
In 2014, fighting also began in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, particularly in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Pro-Russian separatist groups took control of some areas and fought against Ukrainian government forces. Russia supported these groups, and the fighting continued for years.
This created a separate armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, several years before the full-scale war of 2022.
In 2014 and 2015, the Minsk Agreements were introduced as an attempt to stop the fighting and find a political solution. However, the conflict was never fully resolved.
What Were the Minsk Agreements?
The Minsk Agreements were made in 2014 and 2015 to reduce and eventually stop the fighting in the Donbas region.
They included a ceasefire along with other political and security measures. These included steps related to the withdrawal of armed groups and weapons, local elections and the future political status of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.
However, the agreements were not fully implemented. Fighting and ceasefire violations continued in the region.
As a result, the conflict remained unresolved for several years.
What Happened Between 2015 and 2021?
Between 2015 and 2021, the conflict in Donbas continued despite the Minsk Agreements.
There were periods when the fighting became less intense, but the main political issues were still not settled. Ceasefire violations also continued.
Then, in 2021, Russia began building up a large number of military forces around Ukraine. By late 2021, more than 100,000 Russian military personnel had been deployed in areas around Ukraine, including Crimea and western Russia. Russian forces were also conducting exercises in Belarus.
This military buildup raised concerns that the conflict could turn into a much larger war.
Russia’s Stated Position vs. Ukraine and Western Positions
Russia said that Ukraine’s close relationship with NATO was a security concern for Russia.
Russia wanted Ukraine not to join NATO and also wanted limits on NATO and Western military activity near Russia’s borders.
Russia also said that the conflict in Donbas needed to be resolved and that people in Donbas, including Russian-speaking people, needed protection.
Ukraine, on the other hand, said that it was an independent and sovereign country and had the right to decide its own foreign policy and security relationships.
Western countries supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and did not recognize Russia’s claims over Ukrainian territory.
These different positions became harder to reconcile as tensions between the sides continued to increase.
Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine in 2022?
By the end of 2021, tensions between Russia and Ukraine had increased sharply.
Russia had built up a large number of military forces around Ukraine. Russia said that Ukraine’s closer relationship with NATO was a security threat and that Ukraine should not become a NATO member.
Russia also said that the conflict in Donbas needed to be resolved and that the people living there needed protection.
President Vladimir Putin also described the “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of Ukraine as purposes of the military operation. These were Russia’s stated justifications for its actions.
On February 21, 2022, Russia recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic as independent states. The United Nations did not recognize Russia’s decision and continued to affirm Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Three days later, the conflict entered a completely different stage.
What Happened on 24 February 2022?
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military operation in Ukraine.
Russian forces entered Ukraine from several directions, including Belarus in the north, Russia in the east and Crimea in the south. Fighting began in multiple parts of the country, and Kyiv was one of the main directions of the Russian advance.
This marked the start of the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine.
It is important to remember that fighting had already been taking place in eastern Ukraine since 2014. So, February 24, 2022 was not the beginning of all Russia-Ukraine fighting. It was a major expansion of the conflict that had already been going on for years.
After the full-scale invasion, the level of fighting and destruction increased significantly, and millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes.
Why Has the War Continued?
Even after the full-scale war began in 2022, the main issues between Russia and Ukraine remained unresolved.
The two sides have had major differences over the terms of a possible peace agreement, territorial questions, security arrangements and the future status of Ukraine.
Russia has continued to seek changes to Ukraine’s future security alignment and territorial status, while Ukraine has sought to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity and has called for security guarantees.
At the same time, fighting on the battlefield has continued. Military operations and attacks have taken place alongside diplomatic efforts to find a way to end the war.
Peace talks and other diplomatic efforts have also taken place during 2025 and 2026, but major differences between the sides have remained.
How Has the War Affected Ukraine, Russia and the World?
The war has had a major impact on Ukraine.
Homes, schools, hospitals, energy infrastructure and transport systems have suffered extensive damage. Millions of people have also been displaced by the conflict.
Rebuilding the country will require a very large amount of money. According to the World Bank’s February 2026 assessment, direct damage in Ukraine had reached more than $195 billion by December 31, 2025. The estimated reconstruction and recovery needs for the following 10 years were almost $588 billion.
Russia has also faced economic and political effects from the war. International sanctions have been imposed on Russia, while the country has also faced the economic effects of military spending and restrictions on trade and finance.
The impact has not been limited to Russia and Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine play important roles in global food, energy and fertilizer markets. Because of this, disruptions caused by the war have affected international supply chains and put pressure on different parts of the global economy.
The conflict has also increased security concerns in Europe and other countries. At the same time, millions of Ukrainians have needed protection and support after leaving the country because of the war.
Conclusion
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is the result of a long history and several political, security and territorial issues.
After Ukraine became independent in 1991, its relationship with Russia changed, while its relationship with Europe and Western institutions gradually became more important.
The situation became much more serious in 2014 after the political crisis in Ukraine, the events in Crimea and the beginning of the conflict in Donbas. The Minsk Agreements were later introduced as an attempt to reduce the fighting and find a political solution, but the main issues were not completely resolved.
In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military operation in Ukraine. This greatly expanded the conflict and created a much larger humanitarian, economic and international impact.
To understand the Russia-Ukraine conflict today, it is important to look at the major developments from 1991 to 2014 and then from 2014 to 2022, while also understanding the different positions of Russia, Ukraine and Western countries.