Reason behind Russia-Ukraine conflict: explained in 10 points

Russia launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other nations that any attempt to interfere would result in "consequences you have never seen".

Massive explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders condemned the start of a Russian invasion that could be the cause of massive casualties and overthrow Ukraine's democratically elected regime.

So, why has Russia waged war against Ukraine?

1) While there had been tensions between Russia and Ukraine, for a long time, the situation worsened in early 2021. In January 2021, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged US President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join NATO.

2) This infuriated Russia, which started deploying troops near its Ukraine border for "training exercises". By December, the US started hyping up the deployment of the Russian troops and President Biden warned of grave sanctions if Russia annexed Ukraine.

3) Russia has demanded that the West gives a legally binding guarantee that NATO will not hold any military operations in eastern Europe and Ukraine. Putin claims Ukraine is a puppet of the West and was never an actual state anyway.

4) This is not the first time tensions between the two nations have reached a boiling point. Russia had attacked Ukraine in 2014 when rebels backed by President Putin had captured large swathes of easterrn Ukraine and have fought Ukraine's army since then. At that time, Russia had invaded Crimea.

5) As a former Soviet republic Ukraine has deep social and cultural ties with Russia, and Russian is widely spoken there, but ever since Russian invasion in 2014 those relations have been strained.

6) Russia attacked Ukraine when its pro-Russian president was over thrown in 2014. The war in the east has since claimed over 14,000 lives.

7) The two nations had signed the Minsk peace deal to stop the armed clasht in east Ukraine, including the Donbas region. However as the conflict has carried on, Russia says it is sending "peacekeepers" to the region where the conflict is developing. The West calls it a facade by Moscow to occupy sovereign region.

8) .The fresh conflict between the two nations, which also borders the European Union, has consequences for the EU. And that's why the EU, most of who are NATO endoser have joined the US in announcing sanctions, against Russia.

9) Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Moscow to talk to President Putin to alleviate hostility.

10) India has called for a diplomatic way out of the current conflict between the two nations.

Also Read: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russia must 'immediately' end military operations in Ukraine, says Emmanuel Macron