Ukrainians and Russians have existed as distinct ethnicities for over a thousand years. Throughout history, they sometimes encroached upon each other. In 1917, a revolution in Russia led to the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, also known as the Soviet Union. During the chaotic period after the Russian Revolution, Ukraine tried to assert its independence. However, in 1922, it was incorporated into the Soviet Union as one of its constituent republics. Ukrainians and other nationalities then came under the control of the Soviet empire.
SOVIET ERA
Over the next 70-plus years, the Soviet Union was recognized as a communist state, characterized by a centrally planned economy and state ownership of resources. The world was divided into two primary economic systems: capitalism, led by the United States, and communism, led by the USSR.
This era saw the rise of the Cold War, characterized by intense geopolitical tension between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. It was marked by an arms race and a space race, alongside various ideology-driven conflicts worldwide. A critical aspect of this period was the strategy of nuclear deterrence, where both superpowers built up vast arsenals of nuclear weapons to prevent the other from launching an attack, creating a tense balance of power known as mutually assured destruction (MAD). In the 1980s, the Soviet Union began to face significant internal challenges, leading to its eventual dissolution in 1991.
UKRAINE BECOMES INDEPENDENT
In 1991, Ukraine declared independence. The Ukrainian parliament adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence on August 24, 1991. The Ukrainian population voted for independence later that year. More than 90% of voters endorsed independence. Ukraine established its own government, economy, and foreign policy, setting the stage for its development as an independent nation.
UKRAINE GIVES UP NUCLEAR WEAPONS
After independence, Ukraine held the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal, inherited from the Soviet Union. Ukraine agreed to give up nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances: Russia would not attack Ukraine. This decision was formalized in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom signed an agreement guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and political independence. By 1996, Ukraine became a non-nuclear-weapon state under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or NPT.
ORANGE REVOLUTION
In 2004, widespread allegations of electoral fraud in Ukraine’s presidential election ignited massive protests and civil disobedience across the country, leading to what became known as the Orange Revolution. Supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, who was initially declared the loser, demanded a fair and transparent election. Following peaceful protests, another election was held, resulting in Yushchenko’s victory.
POST-REVOLUTION CHALLENGES
After the Orange Revolution, Ukraine encountered significant political and economic hurdles. Viktor Yushchenko’s presidency was marred by infighting and economic stagnation, leading to public disappointment.
In 2010, Viktor Yanukovych, Yushchenko’s main rival, won the presidency because reforms were moving slowly. Under Yanukovych, Ukraine faced issues with corruption and heavy reliance on Russian energy. Motivated by these challenges, Ukraine sought to strengthen its relationship with the European Union, ultimately signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
EUROMAIDAN PROTESTS
In late 2013, Yanukovych suspended the EU-Ukraine Agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia and protests erupted. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations in Kyiv’s Independence Square quickly grew in size. The government’s harsh crackdown led to violence, resulting in over 100 deaths. By February 2014, amid escalating tensions, the Ukrainian parliament unanimously voted to remove Yanukovych, who then fled to Russia, leaving a power vacuum. Oleksandr Turchynov served as acting president until Petro Poroshenko was elected in May 2014.
UKRAINE INVASION IN 2014
After Euromaidan, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine declared independence, sparking conflict in the Donbas region. The invasion and conflict impacted Ukraine’s sovereignty and its aspirations to align more closely with the European Union and NATO.
In 2014, talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and separatist leaders, with input from France and Germany, resulted in the first Minsk agreement, known as Minsk I. This agreement aimed to establish a ceasefire, facilitate the withdrawal of heavy weapons, and ensure the release of prisoners. However, frequent violations of the ceasefire led to the need for a second agreement. In 2015, Minsk II was signed to reinforce the initial ceasefire and included additional measures such as constitutional reforms in Ukraine to grant more autonomy to the Donbas region. Despite these efforts, the agreements were not fully implemented, and hostilities persisted.
ELECTIONS IN 2019
In 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former comedian, won the presidency in a landslide, promising to combat corruption and seek peace in Eastern Ukraine. His party, Servant of the People, also gained a parliamentary majority, giving him a strong mandate.
TRUMP: “DO ME A FAVOR”
In 2019, the Donald Trump administration withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, which led to Trump’s first impeachment. In a phone call on July 25, 2019, Trump asked Zelensky to “do me a favor” and investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden or Trump would withhold military aid. The situation escalated when it was revealed that there was a pending announcement on CNN about an investigation into the Bidens. As a result, Donald Trump was impeached by the House. Trump was not convicted by the Senate. Votes were mostly on party lines. In 2020, Donald Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden.
JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
Upon taking office, the Biden administration observed that Russia was amassing troops near the Ukrainian border, raising concerns about a potential conflict. The administration, along with international allies, issued warnings to Russia against further aggression. Despite these warnings, Russia intensified its military actions. Dmitri Medvedev, a prominent Russian political figure, made controversial statements regarding Ukraine’s future, suggesting that Ukraine would not exist because, in his view, nobody wanted it.
GENOCIDAL INVASION IN 2022
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, escalating the ongoing conflict. This aggressive move drew international condemnation and led to severe economic sanctions against Russia. The invasion caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing millions of Ukrainians and causing widespread destruction.
The United States and the global community responded by supporting Ukraine with military aid, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic backing. Initially, both Republicans and Democrats in the United States supported aid.