Historic Context of the Russian-Ukrainian War

The Russian invasion of Ukraine started in early 2022 and was preceded by prolonged fighting in the Donbas region of Ukraine, as well as by the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. Historically, Russia has always considered these territories to be subject to its rule and jurisdiction. The formation of Ukrainian statehood became a thorn in the side of Russian elites. Was the war inevitable or could it have been avoided? We’ll discuss the historical context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as well as the events leading up to it. Potential ways to end it from both the Russian and Ukrainian perspectives will also be reviewed.