From Inside Ukraine - The Drums of War Are Beating Between Russia and the West - Russia Invading Ukraine

We explain Ukraine’s strategic position between Russia and Europe and trace the roots of the conflict back to the Cold War, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the expansion of NATO. We discuss Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the conflict in Donbas, and the formation of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk republics. We examine Russia’s military buildup and demands regarding NATO, while considering how a potential war could affect Ukraine, Europe, and the wider world.