It’s a claim that pops up now and again, particularly from some political figures: that Ukraine, not Russia, was the instigator of the current conflict. To cut straight to it, the overwhelming historical record, supported by a vast body of evidence from international bodies, governments, and independent researchers, clearly points to Russia as the aggressor. While Ukraine has been involved in a conflict with Russia-backed separatists in its eastern regions since 2014, the full-scale invasion in February 2022 was a deliberate act of aggression by the Russian Federation, a conclusion widely accepted globally. Let’s dig into the details to see what actually happened.
The Roots of the Conflict: A Look Back to 2014
To understand the current situation, we need to rewind to 2014. This period is crucial because it marks a significant escalation in tensions and direct Russian intervention in Ukraine.
The Maidan Revolution and Russian Reaction
In late 2013 and early 2014, Ukraine experienced the “Euromaidan Revolution.” This was a series of protests, initially against then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to back out of an association agreement with the European Union, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. These protests grew into a broader movement against corruption and for greater integration with Europe. Yanukovych eventually fled to Russia in February 2014, leading to a change in government in Kyiv.
From Russia’s perspective, this was a Western-backed coup d’état, destabilising a neighbouring country and threatening its sphere of influence. This narrative, however, is largely unsubstantiated by evidence, which points to a genuine grassroots movement of Ukrainian citizens. The new government in Kyiv, while pro-Western, was a legitimate interim administration tasked with holding new elections.
Russia’s Annexation of Crimea
Almost immediately following Yanukovych’s departure, Russian special forces, without insignia, began to seize control of government buildings and military bases in Crimea, a peninsula in southern Ukraine with a large ethnic Russian population. In March 2014, a highly controversial and widely condemned “referendum” was held, with overwhelming (and, again, widely disputed) results in favour of joining Russia. Russia then formally annexed Crimea. This act was a clear violation of international law, Ukrainian sovereignty, and numerous bilateral treaties between Russia and Ukraine, including the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Russia, along with the US and UK, guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for its surrender of nuclear weapons.
The annexation of Crimea was an unambiguous act of aggression by Russia. There was no Ukrainian military action against Crimea, nor any credible threat that would justify such a response.
The War in Donbas
Simultaneously with the events in Crimea, pro-Russian unrest erupted in several eastern and southern Ukrainian regions, most notably in Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as the Donbas. Russian-backed separatists, often supported by individuals who had travelled from Russia and with the increasingly evident presence of Russian military equipment and personnel, declared “People’s Republics” and engaged in armed conflict with Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine responded with an “Anti-Terrorist Operation” (ATO) to re-establish control over its territory. This was a defensive action by a sovereign state against an internal insurgency heavily supported and directed by an external power. While this conflict was brutal and resulted in significant casualties, it was not Ukraine starting a war against Russia, but rather Ukraine defending itself against Russian-sponsored aggression on its own soil.
International Consensus and Official Statements
It’s not just a matter of interpretation; the international community has largely been clear on who bears responsibility.
United Nations Resolutions
The United Nations General Assembly has passed numerous resolutions condemning Russia’s actions. For example, Resolution 68/262, adopted in March 2014, affirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and declared the Crimean referendum invalid. After the full-scale invasion in 2022, Resolution ES-11/1 condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and demanded its withdrawal. These resolutions, while non-binding in the same way as Security Council resolutions, represent the overwhelming view of the world’s nations.
The UN Security Council has also discussed the issue extensively, although Russia’s veto power has prevented many condemnatory resolutions from passing. However, the discussions themselves consistently highlight Russia as the aggressor.
Statements from Western Governments
Governments across the globe, including the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union member states, and many others, have consistently condemned Russia’s actions and affirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 and significantly expanded in 2022 are a direct response to what these governments officially recognise as Russian aggression.
There has been no credible official statement from any major international body or government suggesting that Ukraine initiated the conflict or that Russia’s actions were anything other than a violation of international law.
Reports from Human Rights Organisations
Organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have extensively documented the conflict, consistently identifying Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists as perpetrators of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Their reports detail actions taken by both sides, but the foundational aggression and continuous external support for the separatists are attributed to Russia.
The Events of February 2022: An Unambiguous Invasion
The full-scale invasion in February 2022 unequivocally demonstrates Russia’s role as the aggressor.
Russia’s Build-Up and Demands
In the months leading up to February 2022, Russia amassed a massive military force on Ukraine’s borders, including in Belarus. While initially denying any intention to invade, the scale and nature of the deployment were deeply concerning to Western intelligence agencies. Russia also issued a series of demands, including a halt to NATO expansion and a withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe, which were widely seen as ultimatums rather than genuine diplomatic proposals.
Ukraine, at this time, was conducting defensive exercises within its own borders and reiterated its commitment to diplomacy. There was no evidence of any Ukrainian build-up or imminent threat that would justify a pre-emptive strike by Russia.
Putin’s Justifications and Reality
On 21 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy address, full of historical grievances and unsubstantiated claims, including that Ukraine was run by Nazis and was committing “genocide” against Russian speakers in Donbas. He then recognised the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics.”
Crucially, in the early hours of 24 February 2022, Putin announced a “special military operation” to “demilitarise” and “denazify” Ukraine. This was immediately followed by a full-scale invasion from multiple directions, including from Belarus, aiming directly at Kyiv. Missile strikes targeted cities across Ukraine, and ground forces crossed the border.
This was not a defensive operation. It was a pre-meditated, large-scale invasion of a sovereign country, based on false pretences. Ukraine’s response was, again, to defend its territory and its people.
Lack of Ukrainian Provocation
Throughout this period, Ukraine did not launch any major offensive operations against Russia or Russian-controlled territories. While there were ongoing skirmishes along the line of contact in Donbas, as had been the case since 2014, these did not constitute a major escalation or a pretext for a full-scale invasion. Indeed, Western intelligence had been warning of a Russian invasion for weeks, based on Russia’s troop movements and rhetoric, not any perceived Ukrainian aggression.
The idea that Ukraine somehow “started” this war in 2022 simply doesn’t align with the observable facts: a massive Russian troop deployment, unfounded accusations from Putin, and a subsequent multi-front invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Russia’s Objectives and Actions
Russia’s stated objectives and actual actions further demonstrate its role as the initiator and aggressor.
Revanchism and Imperial Ambitions
Putin’s public statements and essays have consistently revealed a view of Ukraine as historically part of Russia, denying its independent nationhood and sovereignty. His rhetoric often harks back to the Soviet era and Russian imperial history, suggesting a desire to restore Russia’s geopolitical influence and control over neighbouring states.
The invasion was not about protecting Russian citizens in Ukraine, as often claimed. It was about overthrowing the Ukrainian government, installing a pro-Russian regime, and preventing Ukraine from pursuing its chosen path towards integration with Europe and NATO. This is an objective characteristic of an aggressor, not a defender.
War Crimes and Atrocities
During the course of the invasion, Russian forces have been credibly accused of, and in many cases documented committing, numerous war crimes and atrocities, including the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, attacks on civilian infrastructure, torture, sexual violence, and forced deportations. International bodies like the International Criminal Court have opened investigations into these alleged crimes.
These actions are not typically associated with a nation acting in self-defence but rather with an invading force seeking to subdue a population and destroy its will to resist.
Violation of International Law
From the annexation of Crimea to the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has consistently violated fundamental principles of international law, including the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Russia has also violated numerous bilateral agreements with Ukraine.
These violations are central to understanding who started the war. The international legal framework is designed to prevent states from invading their neighbours. Russia’s actions fall squarely within what that framework defines as aggression.
The Evidence is Clear
| Year | Event | Description | Source/Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Annexation of Crimea | Russia annexed Crimea following Ukraine’s Euromaidan protests and the ousting of President Yanukovych. | Historical records, international reports |
| 2014 | Start of War in Donbas | Pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine declared independence, leading to armed conflict. | OSCE reports, UN documentation |
| 2022 | Russian Full-Scale Invasion | Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine, escalating the conflict significantly. | International news agencies, government statements |
| Claim | Trump’s Statement | Claimed Ukraine started the war against Russia. | Public speeches, interviews |
| Historical Record | Conflict Origins | Evidence shows Russia’s actions initiated the conflict, not Ukraine. | Independent investigations, expert analyses |
When examining the historical record and the events leading up to and including the 2022 full-scale invasion, the conclusion is overwhelmingly clear: Russia is the aggressor in this conflict. The narrative that Ukraine somehow started the war is not supported by facts, international law, or the consensus of the global community.
From the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the instigation of the war in Donbas, all the way through to the unprovoked, large-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia’s actions have been consistently aggressive and in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law. Ukraine has, throughout this period, acted defensively to protect its territory and its people. While the conflict is complex and tragic, the question of who initiated it is, according to the evidence, quite straightforward.
FAQs
1. Did Ukraine start the war with Russia?
No, Ukraine did not start the war with Russia. The conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine.
2. What triggered the conflict between Ukraine and Russia?
The conflict was triggered by Ukraine’s decision to move closer to the European Union, which led to protests and the eventual ousting of pro-Russian President Yanukovych. Russia responded by annexing Crimea and supporting separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
3. Has Ukraine been the aggressor in the conflict?
No, Ukraine has not been the aggressor in the conflict. The Ukrainian government has been fighting against separatist rebels supported by Russia in an effort to maintain its territorial integrity.
4. What role did Russia play in the conflict with Ukraine?
Russia played a significant role in the conflict with Ukraine by annexing Crimea in 2014 and providing military and financial support to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s actions have been widely condemned by the international community.
5. How has the international community responded to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia?
The international community has condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea and support for separatist rebels. Efforts have been made to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict through diplomatic means.
