3 DAYS INTO 3 YEARS: THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

What started as a three-day “special military operation” has now become a three-year Russia-Ukraine war. In this deep dive, writer Patrisiia traces the conflict from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the high-stakes February 2025 meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

With rising global tensions, political power plays, and ongoing battles, will 2025 be the year that defines Ukraine’s fate?

By Patrisiia L.

Following the 3rd anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine and after President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heated meeting on February 28 this year, it is hard not to talk about the war.

On the surface, the war started on February 24 2022. Still, it is necessary to dive deeper to the beginning of the overall conflict – February 2014. After the events of that years Euromaidan (Ukrainian demonstrations and civil unrest at Russia's occupation) and Kremlin-backed Ukrainian President Yanukovych’s escape to Russia, several unmarked Russian troops seized control of the Crimean Peninsula, part of the Ukrainian territory. 

On March 16, 2014, a referendum was held, and 97% of the Crimean population voted to join Russia. However, this referendum was deemed illegitimate by Ukraine and the West. Disregarding that, Russia formally annexed Crimea on March 18 2014.

Later, in April 2014, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk (Donbas region) declared independence from Ukraine, leading to armed conflict between them and the Ukrainian military. It is reported that Russia provided military support to Donbas separatists while denying direct involvement. However, it is believed that evidence of Russian troops and weapons was found at key battle sites such as The Battle of Ilovaisk, where it is reported that Russians interfered directly, defeating Ukrainian troops.

As a result of these actions, Western countries proceeded to issue sanctions towards Russia, and Crimea is still widely recognised as Ukrainian territory worldwide.

This conflict sparked again in 2022, with Russia’s President Putin claiming that it would be over in 3 days.

In February 2022, Russia identified their entry into Ukraine as a ‘special military operation’ to protect Russian speakers in the Donbas area. Further, President Putin claimed that he wanted to ‘de-Nazify Ukraine’, and went on to claim that NATO’s presence in Ukraine poses a threat to Russia’s security.

Ukraine and the West saw these actions as a war declaration, as not only the Donbas area but other cities in Ukraine became targeted by the attacks. It is claimed that Russia had committed war crimes due to the bombing of civilian areas. Additionally, Russia denied Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent country, which was seen as an attempt at cultural and political erasure.

As it is widely reported, President Trump of the US claimed that he would make efforts to stop the conflict immediately after becoming President in 2025. That is widely deemed controversial, as his most recent remarks towards and about President Zelenskyy have not been positive. For example, he recently stated that Zelenskyy was a dictator with minimal support from his own nation, “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump wrote., a statement he later denied making.

The most recent meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump attracted worldwide attention, with many Americans taking to social media to express their embarrassment and disgust at their own President, along with people all over the world. On February 28 this year, Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy met to proceed with talks regarding the war, which did not end well; in fact, a highly publicised argument ensued. Zelenskyy left the US early after heated words with Trump and Vance, including their disregard of Zelenskyy’s non-suited attire, which they deemed disrespectful to The White House.

However, the case is that he has worn military-style clothing since the beginning of the war, justifiable by the fact that Ukrainian soldiers are out on the frontlines protecting their country physically, and their President is protecting his country diplomatically. This an extremely important effort during a war, notably also worn by Winston Churchill on his state visit to the US during World War 2. In their choice of clothing, they stand in solidarity.

With meetings between the world leaders continuing, the outcome of the war is yet unpredictable, the question that comes to mind is: How pivotal will 2025 be?

By Patrisiia L.