The war in Ukraine began in the broader sense following the Euromaidan protests of 2013-2014, which triggered Russia's annexation of Crimea in February 2014 and the subsequent outbreak of armed conflict in the Donbas region. While the large-scale invasion is often marked by the full-scale assault launched on February 24, 2022, the conflict has deep historical roots and evolved from years of simmering tensions into a devastating war that reshaped the European security landscape.
Roots of the Conflict: The Euromaidan Revolution
The immediate catalyst for the war was the Euromaidan movement, a series of protests that erupted in Kyiv in November 20 then-President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to suspend signing an Association Agreement with the European Union under pressure from Moscow. This political crisis culminated in Yanukovych's ouster in February 2014, which Russia viewed as a Western-backed coup. The change in leadership created a power vacuum that Russia exploited to advance its strategic interests in the Black Sea region.
Annexation of Crimea and the Onset of War in Donbas
February-March 2014: The Seizure of Crimea
In late February 2014, unmarked Russian troops without insignia, later confirmed to be Russian special forces, captured strategic locations across Crimea. Within days, Russia moved to annex the peninsula through a controversial referendum held under military occupation. This action, condemned internationally as a violation of international law, marked the first significant military escalation and demonstrated Russia's willingness to use force to maintain its influence over former Soviet territories.
April 2014: War Erupts in Eastern Ukraine
While global attention focused on Crimea, pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luansk regions of eastern Ukraine, collectively known as the Donbas, began seizing government buildings and clashing with Ukrainian forces. By April 2014, armed conflict had broken out, with Russia providing crucial support to the separatists. This phase of the conflict, which continues to this day, resulted in thousands of casualties and established a frozen conflict that simmered for nearly eight years before exploding into full-scale war.
The Minsk Agreements: Failed Diplomacy
Multiple attempts to resolve the Donbas conflict through diplomatic channels, notably the Minsk Protocol (September 2014) and Minsk II (February 2015), brokered by France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia, ultimately failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire. These agreements called for ceasefires, constitutional reforms in Ukraine, and local elections in the separatist regions, but both sides accused each other of violations. The agreements served more as temporary pauses in fighting than genuine pathways to peace, allowing Russia to solidify its control over the occupied territories.
The Path to Full-Scale Invasion
2021-2022: Military Buildup and Diplomatic Deadlines
Throughout 2021 and early 2022, Russia amassed over 100,000 troops along Ukraine's borders, conducting what appeared to be routine military exercises. As diplomatic efforts between Russia, the United States, and NATO broke down, Russia presented specific security demands, including a guarantee that Ukraine would never join NATO and the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe. With these demands unmet and intelligence indicating plans for a large-scale invasion, the international community braced for the worst.
