The United States and others accused Russia of planning to attack or invade Ukraine, which Russian officials repeatedly denied as late as 23 February 2022. Putin said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had threatened Russia's security by expanding eastward since the early 2000s – a claim disputed by NATO – and demanded Ukraine be barred from ever joining the alliance. Russian president Vladimir Putin espoused irredentist views, questioned Ukraine's right to statehood, and falsely accused Ukraine of being dominated by neo-Nazis who persecute the Russian-speaking, ethnic Russian minority. In 2021, Russia began a large military build-up along its border with Ukraine, amassing up to 190,000 troops along with their equipment. Russia subsequently annexed Crimea, and Russian-backed separatists seized part of the south-eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, sparking a war there. The invasion marked a major escalation of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014 following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity. It has triggered Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 4 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions more internally displaced. ![]() The attack is internationally considered an act of aggression. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |