Russo-Ukrainian War Timeline

Emma Yosten

Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, marking the first wave of post-Cold War enlargement. In 2004, NATO underwent its largest enlargement, admitting seven countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Russia viewed NATO’s eastward expansion as a direct challenge to its security as Russia had long been worried of NATO’s influence near its borders and saw the expansion as a strategic encroachment. (Wikipedia)

Ukraine gained independence from the USSR after it's collapse. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine began over Ukraine’s future orientation toward the West or maintaining ties with Russia. (The Infographics Show)

This was a man-made famine created by the Soviet government of Joseph Stalin. The estimated amount of deaths was between 3.5 to 7 million Ukrainians. The famine is widely recognized as an act of genocide, aimed at crushing Ukrainian nationalism and resistance to Soviet rule and many Ukrainians view this as an act of genocide intended to suppress Ukrainian nationalism. ("Holodomer")

Ukraine tried to gain its independence in the wake of the Russian Revolution, but ultimatly fell short in 1921. They signed the Treaty of Riga formalizing the division og Urkaine with Poland getting the western part and the Soviet Union getting eastern Urkaine. (Ukrainian War of Independence - Wikipedia)

Leading up to the Russo-Ukrainian War

1914-2004

1914

World War I

The war allowed nationalist organizations, such as the Supreme Ukrainian Council, formed in 1914, to advocate for Ukrainian self-determination. (Shuster)

1917

Ukraine War of Independence

1932-1933

Holodomer

1991

Soviet Union Collapse

1999-2004

Nato Expansion

Emma Yosten

There were massive and peaceful protests in Ukraine during late 2004 and early 2005, and people united to demand change. Common allegations of electoral fraud in the 2004 presidential election that allowed President Yanukovych to become president. (Dickinson)

This war served as a stark warning to Ukraine about Russia’s willingness to use military force to assert dominance over its neighbors. The war also showed the risks of being outside Western security structures including NATO, reinforcing Ukraine’s desire to align more closely with the EU and NATO. (The Russia-Georgia Conflict)

Russia pressured Yanukovych to reject the EU Association Agreement by offering financial incentives. Yanukovych announced Ukraine would not sign the agreement with the EU, sparking mass protests and demanding closer ties with Europe. (BBC News)

Ukraine’s parliament removed Yanukovych and he fled to Russia. A pro-Western interim government took power, infuriating Russia. (BBC News)

Leading up to the Russo-Ukrainian War

2004-2014

2004-2005

Orange Revolution

2008

Russia-Georgia War

2013

Rejection of Eurpeoan Union Agreement

2014

Yanukovych Flees Ukraine

2014

Russia seized Crimea

Begining Feburary 20th 2014 Russia seized Crimea, the southern penisula of Ukraine which started the Russo-Ukrainain War. Crimea was declared fully intergated in 2015. (Mohr)

How might this war be ended? 3 things need to happen to be able to end this war: - First both countrys and allied countries should cease fire and draft a Neutrality Treaty saying they will no long harm anyone. -Russia must accept Ukraine's recognized borders including Crimea and the Donbas region and negotiate the status of these territories peacefully -Lastly, Russia needs to be assured that NATO will not be expanded militarily near its borders as this is was a cause to the beginning of the war.

SOURCES:

BBC News. “Putin: Russia Helped Yanukovych to Flee Ukraine.” BBC News, 24 Oct. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29761799. Dickinson, Peter. “How Ukraine’s Orange Revolution Shaped Twenty-first Century Geopolitics - Atlantic Council.” Atlantic Council, 23 Nov. 2020, www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/how-ukraines-orange-revolution-shaped-twenty-first-century-geopolitics. “Holodomor.” College of Liberal Arts, cla.umn.edu/chgs/holocaust-genocide-education/resource-guides/holodomor. Mohr, Rachael. “What Russia’S Invasion of Ukraine Means for the US.” Spirit of America, 6 July 2022, spiritofamerica.org/what-further-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-means-for-us?gad_source=1#:~:text=Ukraine%2DRussia%20Conflict%20Background.Shuster, Mike. Ukraine and the First World War |. 26 Mar. 2014, greatwarproject.org/2014/03/26/ukraine-and-the-first-world-war. The Infographics Show. “How And Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse.” YouTube, 21 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZdijf1U7OY. “The Russia-Georgia Conflict: What Happened and Future Implications for US Foreign Policy.” Wilson Center, www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-russia-georgia-conflict-what-happened-and-future-implications-for-us-foreign-policy. Ukrainian War of Independence - Wikipedia. 5 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_War_of_Independence#:~:text=The%20Ukrainian%20War%20of%20Independence,the%20wider%20Russian%20Civil%20War. Wikipedia. “Enlargement of NATO.” Wikipedia, 26 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement_of_NATO.