Why Has Russia Declared War On Ukraine

Despite constant global appeals and efforts by western nations, Russian President Putin has declared a ‘special military operation’ on Ukraine.

It has asked the Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and Russian soldiers have crossed the border into Ukraine.

In an emergency address,  President Putin said that the operation has been launched to demilitarise the country.

After a series of attacks on cities of Ukraine, the government in Ukraine has accused the Russian President of initiating a ‘war of aggression.

Moreover, Ukraine’s president Zelensky has imposed martial law in the country. Multiple reasons aggravated the situation to the doors of war.

So, let’s us tell understand what has been the reason for Russia declaring war against Ukraine:

What is the issue of Russia with Ukraine?

Ukraine and Russia share deep cultural and social ties and the Russian language is commonly spoken in Ukraine.

Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union until it voted for independence during a democratic referendum in 1991. The decision further promoted the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

But, the relations between the country began when a pro-Russian president was overthrown in early 2014. Consequently,  in early 2014 Russia launched an offensive attack and invaded Ukraine. As per figures, 14,000 people died due to the battle in east Ukraine.

Pro-Putin reveals captured parts of East Ukraine and the army has been fighting ever since. An international peace agreement was signed and the conflict continued.

Now, President Putin has declared two rebel areas of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent countries.

The present government in Ukraine led by President Volodymyr Zelensky is more shifted its attention to the West.

Also, the government aimed to join the EU and NATO. Consequently,  it would have moved away from Russia’s post-Soviet group. President Putin has now argued that Ukraine has become a puppet under the Western countries and said that Ukraine was never a proper state.

1. President Putin considers Ukraine as an illegitimate country on the land that rightfully belongs to Russia.
2. The government in Ukraine focused on its relations with the EU and western Nations moving away from the pro-Russian orbit.
3. Russia did not want Ukraine to join the NATO alliance.
4. President Putin claimed that a “genocide” against a large Russian minority was currently going on in the Donbas region of Ukraine. However, the opposition termed it as an excuse.
5. Russia wants to make a Russian wave of influence in East Europe.
6. Political analysts claim that Russia wants to demonstrate itself as a superpower to the West.

In the coming days, it will be important to see whether Russia will take over Ukraine or the other countries will be successful in averting the war that has come to the doorstep.

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