Causes of Ukraine-Russia Conflict Essay Sample

Born in the year 1952, Vladimir Putin then went on to study law at Leningrad University. Early on in Putin’s career, he was involved in the KGB as an officer for fifteen years in foreign intelligence before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Meanwhile, in the year 1996 Putin moved to Moscow to further his political career by becoming the deputy to the then president Borodin in addition to being promoted to secretary of the Federal Security Service. This in turn allowed Putin to be appointed to the position of Prime Minister by Yeltsin in the year 1999. Through his background in both the KGB and in government positions, the road to Putin’s ascent to power was paved. 

Through the launching of a secessionist military operation in Chechnya, Putin gained the popularity of the Russian public by subduing any potential insurgency – this proved to be a political move that Putin repeats throughout his career although the intentions behind his actions are up for debate. Furthermore, Putin involved Russia in international conflicts such as allying with Germany to oppose the US and the UK’s plans to overthrow Saddam Hussein – a political alliance against Russia’s long-time enemy. With Putin still in public favour owing to the economic growth attributed to his reign and the decisiveness he displayed through his international involvement in conflicts, his influence over the public remained steadfast in spite of being forced to step down after his second term. Despite being succeeded by Medvedev for a short period of time, Putin regained office.  

Meanwhile, in Ukraine the Russian supported Viktor Yanukovych the then – President of Ukraine – was overthrown through a series of protests known as the Orange Revolution. Since Yanukovych wished to maintain close ties to Russia, and the election results were allegedly tampered by the Russians with his political opponent ill from an assassination attempt, he was extremely unpopular with the Ukrainian public of which possessed nationalistic feelings against Russia. With Yanukovych in political exile in Russia, Zelensky gained office. Consequently, Putin refused to recognize the interim government of Ukraine, and proceeded to annex Crimea the same year. However, it is important to note that Crimea consists mainly of ethnic Russians who voted to join Russia in a referendum. Likewise, besides not recognizing the Zelensky administration, Putin also states that Ukraine is a fictitious state formed from historically Russian territory by Soviet leaders in a publicized personal essay. 

Overall, due to hostilities and territorial disputes, tensions only worsened overtime between Putin’s Russia and Zelensky’s Ukraine. Through the seizing of Ukrainian government buildings by gunmen armed with Russian equipment in 2014, Southeastern Ukraine fell to insurgency. By the September of 2015, the UN estimated that 8 000 people were killed, and 1.5 million were displaced through conflicts within the region. Ultimately, all the historical and political tensions all culminated to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.