What does Russia want from Ukraine? Why is Russia invading Ukraine

After denials for months by President Vladimir Putin that he would invade Ukraine, he finally made peace and sent troops across the border in Ukraine’s south, east, and north.

what does Putin want?

He is accused of destroying peace in Europe as the death toll rises. The next step could threaten the entire security system of Europe.

What is the reason for Russian troops being attacked?

After Russia’s leader ordered an invasion, Russian troops are making advances on the capital of Ukraine from many directions. He declared that Russia cannot feel safe, develop, and exist due to the constant threat of modern Ukraine in a TV address broadcast before dawn on February 24th.

First, airports and military headquarters were attacked, close to cities in Ukraine. Then tanks and troops were rolled into Ukraine from Russia and its ally Belarus from the north, south, and east.

Many of Putin’s arguments were illogical or false. He stated that his goal was to defend people who were subject to bullying and genocide, and to achieve the “demilitarisation” and de-Nazification of Ukraine. Ukraine has not been a victim to genocide. It is a vibrant democracy led by a Jewish president.

“How can I be a Nazi?” Volodymr Zelensky, a Russian spokesman, compared Russia’s assault to Nazi Germany’s invasion during World War Two 

Since Viktor Yanukovych was elected Ukraine’s pro-Russian president in 2014, after months of protests against him, President Putin has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being overthrown by extremists.

Russia responded by seizing Crimea’s southern region and starting a rebellion in east. It also supported separatists fighting Ukrainian forces in a conflict that claimed 14,000 lives.

Russia deployed large numbers of troops near Ukraine’s borders in the latter part of 2021. However, it repeatedly denied that it was planning to attack. After the 2015 peace agreement for the east was abandoned, Putin recognized rebel-controlled areas as independent.

Russia has always resisted Ukraine’s moves towards NATO and the European Union. He accused Nato of “threatening our historic future as a country” by announcing Russia’s invasion.

What will Russia do?

It is clear now that Russia wants to overthrow Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Its goal is to free Ukraine from oppression, and “cleanse of the Nazis”.

President Zelensky stated that he was warned by the enemy “target number one” and his family “target number two”. Kremlin-controlled TV regularly spins the false narrative that Ukraine was seized in 2014 by fascists. Putin spoke of the need to bring to justice “those who have committed many bloody crimes against civilians”.

Although Russia is not yet clear on its plans for Ukraine, it faces strong resistance from a hostile population. The UK indicted Moscow for plotting to install a proRussian puppet to run Ukraine’s government in January. Russia rejected the claim as absurd. Unconfirmed intelligence reports suggested that Russia wanted to divide the country.

Russia’s focus in the east was Luhansk, Donetsk, and the surrounding areas during the days preceding the invasion.

Putin declared that the separatist regions controlled by Russian proxies were independent and said they were not part of Ukraine. He then revealed that he had supported their claims for far more Ukrainian territory. These self-described people’s republics only cover a third of Ukraine’s Luhansk or Donetsk regions. But the rebels want the rest.

How dangerous is this invasion of Europe?

These are frightening times for Ukraine’s people and horrifying times for Europe as a whole. It is the first invasion of a major power by a European neighbor since World War Two.

Already, dozens of people have been killed in the “Putin’s War” that Germany calls both soldiers and civilians. This invasion has been a dark time for Europe’s leaders since the 1940s. It was, according to France’s Emmanuel Macron a turning point of Europe’s history. Volodymyr Zelensky, recalling the Cold War days in the Soviet Union spoke of Ukraine’s attempt to prevent a new iron curtain from closing Russia off from civilized world.

There will be anxious days ahead for the families of both armies. The eight-year conflict with Russian proxies has already been grueling for the Ukrainian people. All reservists between 18 and 60 years of age have been called up by the military.

Mark Milley, a top US military official, stated that the Russian scale would create a “horrific scenario” with conflict in dense urban areas. Russia’s population wasn’t prepared for this war, as it was rubber-stamped invading by an unrepresentative upper chamber of parliament.

Many countries bordering Russia and Ukraine are experiencing knock-on effects from the invasion. Five countries are experiencing an influx in refugees. The UN children’s agency estimates that the UN will be able to accommodate up to five million refugees. All countries are ready for new arrivals, including Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.

What can the West do to help?

While NATO has placed warplanes on alert but the Western alliance has stated that they do not plan to send combat troops to Ukraine. Instead, they offered advice, weapons, and field hospitals. In the meantime, 5,000 Nato troops are deployed in Poland and the Baltic States. An additional 4,000 troops could be sent to Romania and Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovakia.

Gleichzeitig hattricks the West Russia’s financial institutions, economy, and people.

• The EU and UK have placed personal sanctions against President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
• The EU wants to limit Russian access to capital markets, and to cut off its industry from the latest technology in defense and security. It also targeted 351 MPs, who supported Russia’s recognition for rebel-held areas.
• Germany stopped approval of Russia’s NordStream 2 gas pipeline. This was a significant investment made by both Russian and European businesses.
• The US has targeted 10 of Russia’s largest financial institutions. They control about 80% of Russia’s banking assets. As such, they will have difficulty transacting in dollars or euros.
• The UK has announced that all major Russian banks will have their assets frozen. It also targets 100 individuals and entities. Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, will be prohibited from landing in the UK.

Ukraine has asked its allies not to buy Russian oil or gas. Three Baltic states called for the entire international community to disengage Russia’s bank system from the international Swift payments system. This could have a devastating impact on the US and European economies, and Germany is reluctant to accept it.

What is Putin’s goal?

Partly, President Putin attributed his attack on Nato’s eastward expansion to NATO. He had earlier said that Russia had “nowhere else to retreat to – do these think they’ll just sit by?”

Ukraine wants a clear timeline for joining NATO. Russia’s Deputy foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated: “For us, it’s absolutely imperative to ensure Ukraine never becomes a member or ever becomes a Nato member.”

In a lengthy piece last year, President Putin described Russians and Ukrainians alike as “one nation” and the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 was called the “disintegration historical Russia”.

He claimed that modern Ukraine was created entirely by communist Russia, and that it is now a puppet-state controlled by the West.

Putin also suggested that Ukraine joining NATO might allow the alliance to try to retake Crimea.

Russia isn’t just focused on Ukraine. Russia demands that NATO return to pre-1997 borders.

Putin calls for NATO to disarm its military infrastructure and forces from the member states that joined it in 1997. He also wants them to not deploy “strike arms near Russia’s borders”. This includes Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Baltics.

Putin believes that the West had promised in 1990 that NATO would be expanded “not an inch towards the east”, but it did.

This was before the collapse Soviet Union. However, the promise to Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet President, only addressed East Germany within the context of a reunified Germany. Later, Mr Gorbachev stated that the topic of NATO expansion had never been discussed.

What has the Nato done?

Nato is a defensive alliance that offers open-door policies to new members. Its 30 member states insist this will not change.

As Germany’s chancellor stated, there is no possibility of Ukraine joining the EU for a long period

Is there a diplomatic solution?

But not for now. The Ukraine has requested talks but Russia insists that they cannot be held unless Kyiv surrenders and demilitarizes.

Any eventual deal must include the West in the East and arms control.

The US offered to begin talks about limiting short-range and medium-range missiles as well as a new treaty regarding intercontinental missiles. Russia demanded that all US nuclear weapons be prohibited from their territory.

Russia was supportive of a “transparency mechanism”, which would allow for mutual checks on missile bases. There are two in Russia and two in Romania and Poland.