On 24 February 2022, Russia began a series of strikes on various Ukrainian cities. Russia had gone further than expected. Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian people stating that the invasion of Ukraine, stating that NATO’s expansion motivated the invasion. Putin listed NATO’s aggression in Iraq, Syria, and Yugoslavia as examples of aggression.
The Ukrainian people have fought back against Russia. The Ukraine state has distributed arms to civilians and encouraged them to make petrol bombs to repel the Russian troops. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has refused Russian claims that he had fled Ukraine.
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have begun. So far, Western powers have responded with sanctions against Russia and some basic military aid to Ukraine. The Russian economy, which was already suffering in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, has been badly struggling. Switzerland has frozen the bank accounts of many Russians, including Vladimir Putin.
Russia is important to the rest of Europe economically. Russia supplies nearly a third of the Natural Gas used in Europe. European countries are wary of going further in politically or economically isolating Russia. Russia is an important source of fuel for Europe, in wake of the denuclearization of the European energy sector.
4. What does NATO stand to gain from the Ukraine- Russian Crisis?
The “open” invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is complicated. Ukraine was originally denied entry into NATO because of opposition from France and Germany. The European powers were hopeful to engage with Russia. An expanding NATO would jeopardize their relationship with Russia.
