Russia has concentrated more than 1,00,000 troops near Ukraine’s border. As the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine looks increasingly imminent, the US and its allies have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.
Here are 10 things to know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
1. Ukraine and Russia were a part of the USSR till 1991 before its disintegration. After 1991, Ukraine declared its independence.
2. In 2014, Pro-European protests erupted against Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych ended up leaving the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to invade Crimea.
3. Since then the two nations have been in a conflict that’s become known simply as the Russo-Ukrainian War.
4. Ukraine has also been a victim of cyberattacks that caused electrical blackouts and damaged computer systems. The country believes Russia is behind the attacks.
5. Ukraine is a strategic cushion between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Hence, Russia fears that if Ukraine joins the NATO, it will lose its influence over the region.
6. Ukraine is also called the ” breadbasket of Europe” as it is one of the world’s top grain exporters. Hence, Russia will be able to control that agricultural market if it invades Ukraine.
7. Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe. It wants to reclaim some of its past glory and position itself as a superpower.
8. Russia wants the West to assure that their will be no missile deployments near its borders, no NATO membership for Ukraine, and a scaling back of the alliance’s military infrastructure.
9. Ukraine is not a part of NATO but is a strategic ally of the United States. Hence, US President Joe Biden has sent thousands of American troops to Eastern Europe.
10. United Nations Security Council has appealed to both sides to resolve all issues through diplomatic channels.