The Russo-Ukrainian war, which officially started on Feb. 24, 2022, has impacted global politics, trade and food prices. It was an unexpected but historically predictable invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Everything has a causal relationship and the war in Ukraine is no exception.
A look back at the history of independent Ukraine explains a lot.
Russia didn’t want Ukraine to have any connections with the European Union or NATO because it meant power and independence. Every time Ukraine chose to face the West, Russia tried to stop them by cutting off natural gas, promoting pro-Russian politics or even annexing their territories, including Crimea in the south, and several southeast Ukrainian oblasts beginning in 2014.
Ukrainians tried to fight for independence with revolutions and protests to have a fair government and rights for their own nation.
Here’s a look at some of the key moments in Ukrainian history: