1. After the Second World War in 1945, the world was divided between the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc. The East was led by the Soviet Union (Russia); the West led by US. This led to the Cold War in 1947, where both blocs wanted geographical dominance across the world.

2. To protect their security, the Western Bloc formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949, while the Eastern Bloc, formed the Warsaw Treaty Organisation (WTO) or the Warsaw Pact in 1955.  Both military alliances sought to protect member countries from attack.  

3. Unfortunately, in 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic (USSR) or the Soviet Union collapsed, bringing an end to the Cold War. This made US the only super power in the world. All member states of the USSR became independent states, including Russia and Ukraine.

4. Ukraine handed its military apparatus to its neigbours, Russia; and Russia also promised to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. This led to the signing of the Budapest Agreement between Russia and Ukraine in 1994. It involved USA, UK, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Around 2000, when Putin became President, he wanted to join NATO, but according to him, NATO said, Russia was too big. 

5. However, in 2008, Ukraine expressed interest in joining NATO. Russia opposed it because they felt it will bring the West (US) closer to its borders. Earlier in 1962, when Russia wanted to plant missiles in Cuba, a country, closer to US, the US refused and threatened war. Similarly, Russia also felt that, if Ukraine joins NATO, it will bring the US closer to them, hence their refusal.

6. Then in 2014, Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian was overthrown in a coup. Russia suspected the West and moved to capture the Crimera Peninsula in the south. Conflict also broke out in the east of Ukraine, also known as Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk). Rebels seized the two regions and held a referendum to join Russia. This led to fights between the rebels and the government. In September 2014, the Minsk Agreement calmed the conflict.  

7. Fast forward, in December, 2021, Russia proposed a peace treaty between her and the West (NATO). In the treaty, Russia wanted NATO to stop all of its military activities in countries closer to Russia, such as Poland. Russia also wanted NATO to stop further extensions to the East, especially Ukraine. But NATO said it maintains an open door policy, other therefore countries can join at will.

8. On February 21, 2022, Putin issued a decree recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk (the two eastern regions in Ukraine) as independent republics. Russia then sent forces to protect them from mistreatment from people who Russia accused as having ‘Nazi’ tendencies.

9. Finally, on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine; a move Vladimir Putin described as a “special military operation”. It can therefore be inferred that this invasion was triggered by Ukraine's intention to join NATO. The Russians entered Ukraine from Crimea in the south, Belarus in the north, and the Donbas region in the east. According to Putin, the aim of the invasion is to ‘demilitarise and denazify Ukraine’.

10. Consequently, many world leaders have condemned Putin. Countries like the USA, UK and France have even gone ahead to impose sanctions on Russia.

To further understand the details of this summary, read the full details below:

https://www.myjoyonline.com/paa-kwesi-schandorf-the-russia-ukraine-crisis-all-you-need-to-know/