The war began in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation,” ordering thousands of Russian troops into neighboring Ukraine from the north, east, and south. The Russian forces moved towards Kyiv, hoping for a swift victory, but they were forced to retreat. This aggression resulted in neighbouring countries and the EU opening their borders to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing their home. This led to leaders in the West widely condemning Russia.

European leaders and the European Parliament have strongly condemned the invasion as Ukraine applied for EU membership on 28 February, along with Moldova and the European Council granted candidate country status to both countries on 23 June 2022. So for Europe the conflict has become the worst security crisis since the Second World War.

Background

·         History- Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were all part of the Kievian Rus region. In the 19^th century the Russian Empire started to suppress Ukrainian culture and language. This was done in an attempt to assimilate Ukrainians into Russian culture and moved ethnic Russians to Ukraine in order to populate the region and make it more loyal to the empire. This was done in an attempt to strengthen Russian control over the area and to extend the empire's borders. This caused dissent amongst the ethnic Ukrainian population. But with the formation of Soviet Union Ukraine became their bread basket due to its rich soil and hence the Soviet Union industrialized Ukraine (then Ukraine SSR). But the industrialization came at a cost and Ukraine faced a massive famine post which Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev handed over Crimea to Ukraine SSR. 

·         After the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 gained independence with Crimea as a part of it, and this became a bone of contention between Russia and Ukraine.

·         Russia in 2014 annexed Crimea, taking advantage of a separatist movement in Ukraine, post the ousting of a pro-Russian president.

·         Although Russia and Ukraine signed the Minsk peace accord, the West and EU were still worried due to the maritime advantage Russia got due to the invasion and since Russia kept sending its “peacekeepers” into the region.

Reasons for the invasion

1. Back in 2015 Russia sought Ukraine’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC), a free trade agreement, which Ukraine refused.

2. NATO, led by the U.S, has planned to install missile defence systems in Eastern Europe in countries like Poland and the Czech Republic to counter Russia’s intercontinental-range missiles.

·      Apart from this NATO’s eastward expansion which according to Putin, the West ignored that NATO should not expand to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet countries, has threatened Russia’s interests.

·         Ukraine’s decision to join NATO was probably the last straw, as it will grant NATO access to Russia.

 West’s and EU’s Response

·         USA- the US President announced half-billion dollars in assistance to Ukraine, in addition to the more than $50 billion that has been already provided by his country, including anti-tank missiles, air surveillance radars among other aid. Significantly, the US also provided the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System or HIMARS, reported to have assisted Ukraine recapture Kherson last November. US also provided “Kamikaze” also known as suicide drones, to Ukraine.

·         UK- UK under Boris Johnson had provided Ukraine with 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems.

·         GERMANY- Germany announced that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks, thereby, aiming to provide a total of two battalions to Ukraine. 

·         Australia, Canada and the US have also helped the country by sending the M777 artillery.

·         Turkey contributed to the move with its Bayraktar attack drone.

Russia’s demands

1. Russia demanded a ban on further expansion of NATO on countries like Ukraine that share Russia’s borders.

2. Russia asked NATO to pull back its military deployments to the 1990s level and prohibit the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the bordering areas.

3. Further, Russia asked NATO to curb its military cooperation with Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.

·         Russia wants Crimea to be officially recognized as Russian territory and to recognize Dontesk and Luhansk as independent states.

·         Russia wants to Ukraine to be neutral and stop its military action.

India’s stand

·         In September last year, President Putin met India’s PM Modi at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, where Modi said that “today’s era is not an era of war,” Putin shared that he understood New Delhi’s  concerns about the conflict in Ukraine and wanted it to end “as soon as possible.”

·         India calls for a peaceful resolution and sustained diplomatic efforts for peace.

·         India abstained from voting against Russia in the UN General Assembly.

·         India is under pressure to choose between the Western forces and Russia India has and always will stay neutral based on its own interests as China has expansionist agendas in Southeast Asia  and Maintaining a good stand with Russia serves India’s national interests. Because if India walks against Russia, China may have a strong chance at LAC. China is also a good ally with Russia, so India needs to retain a strong strategic alliance with Russia and stay away from joining Western strategies of isolating Russia.

Conclusion

The US along with other western countries must revive peace through diplomatic channels, funding and furthering the war is not going to benefit anyone except those selling arms. Lives are lost on both sides and this will continue unless there is a peaceful diplomatic dialogue between both countries and that is exactly what the west and EU must do instead for discussing war in UN meetings and amongst each other.

Ukraine should focus on working with its Normandy Format allies, France and Germany, to persuade the Russian government to withdraw assistance for its proxies and allow for the region’s gradual safe reintegration into Ukraine. Minsk II Agreement must be revived.