EXPLAINED | What Is The Real Reason Behind Russia Attacking Ukraine?

In 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union, after which the nation's proximity to the European Union increased. Russia has never liked this.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday (AFP File)

New Delhi: Russian forces on Thursday launched a major military assault on Ukraine, with reports of missile strikes and explosions in major cities. However, tensions between Russia and Ukraine is not new. 

Ukraine has close ties with the European Union (EU), much to the dislike of Russia. In 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union, after which Ukraine's proximity to the European Union increased. Ukraine wants to be a member of the US-led military organisation NATO. But Russia does not want Ukraine to be part of NATO's expansion plan.

Russia has long demanded that Ukraine be forbidden from ever joining the NATO alliance and that US troops pull out from Eastern Europe. But, America and Western countries are not agreeing to this. 

Russia does not want NATO troops to have access to its border. Before invading Ukraine, Russia had been gathering troops in large numbers near the Ukrainian border for the past several days. Russia has said that because of Ukraine, the NATO alliance will come close to its borders.

Russia took control of Crimea in 2014. Shortly thereafter, pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk declared the areas autonomous. France and Germany also signed agreements in Ukraine and Russia to declare these regions autonomous, but the conflict remained.

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Putin said he acted to protect civilians in these separatist regions from Ukraine's military, though there was no evidence they were under any threat. 

Ahead of the offensive, Putin declared in a nationally televised address that action was necessary after the US and its allies crossed Russia's "red lines" by expanding NATO. He also claimed Russia doesn't plan to "occupy" Ukraine.

Differences Between Russia And The United States:

Tensions escalated globally after President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk and ordered Russian troops there

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there have been differences in relations between Russia and the US. Some independent nations adjoining Europe came in contact with the United States and many Western countries and developed close ties, but this was never liked by Russia. The Ukraine crisis is also being seen as a battle for supremacy between the US and Russia.

Ukraine's efforts to join NATO intensified after Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president of the country in 2019. Several countries, including the US, have imposed several sanctions on Russia. According to a UN report, more than 3,000 civilians have been killed in several conflicts since 2014.