BRIEF HISTORY OF RUSSIA’S AGRESSION TOWARDS UKRAINE
Russia’s long standing denial of a Ukrainian State “Politics of Eternity”
Although Russia, Belarus and Ukraine share common medieval roots (Kyvian Rus Commonwealth), Putin has continued to invoke this common history to delegitimize the existence of a Ukrainian state, further claiming that due to common history, the three countries should share a common political fate otherwise coined as Politics of Eternity by historian Timothy Snyder. The Kremlin through its propaganda machines has used this narrative to justify a “special military operation” against Ukraine that has seen hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flee to neighboring countries and thousands others killed and wounded in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
While meeting U.S President Bush in 2008, Putin reportedly stated that “Ukraine is not even a country”. In his pre-invasion address in February of 2021, Putin claimed that “Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia…as a result of Bolshevik Policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called ‘Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine’ he is the author and architect.” These statements have served to increase Ukrainian Nationalism even in Russia-speaking regions of eastern Ukraine.
Fear of NATO expansion
Ukraine has signed a distinctive partnership with NATO (NATO-Ukraine Commission) which has continued to serve as a framework for the eventual accession of Ukraine in the alliance. Ukraine’s relationship with NATO continues to stoke fear in Moscow, fearing Western expansion in Eastern Europe, which is Russia’s front door. This is against the back drop of the Cold War era where the Western allies continue to pursue a foreign policy geared towards containment of the Soviet Union. In the event that Ukraine joins NATO, the security architecture in Eastern Europe will shift significantly limiting Russia’s influence in Eastern Europe.
According to UNICEF the war in Ukraine is having a devastating impact on the country’s 7.5 million children. Humanitarian needs are multiplying by the hour as the fighting continues. Children continue to be killed, wounded and deeply traumatized by the violence all around them. Families are terrified, in shock, and desperate for safety.