Both times, protesters rejected Russia’s supremacy and sought a path to join the European Union and NATO.īy comparison, Russia has been led by three presidents with Vladimir Putin having been in office for 17 years. The country has had a rocky path towards democracy with two revolutions, first in 2005 and then in 2014. Over the past 30 years, Ukraine has been led by seven presidents. Political leadershipįollowing the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine moved to shed its Russian imperial legacy and forge increasingly close ties with the West. Russia and Ukraine were part of the 15 Soviet republics that made up the USSR.įollowing the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine declared independence on August 24.

We break down the history, politics and economics of the Ukraine-Russia crisis in eight graphics. The United States has refused to concede to this demand.

One of the Kremlin’s central demands is that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO – a move it considers a red line. Russia opposes NATO bases near its borders and has asked for written guarantees that NATO does not expand eastwards. An estimated 100,000 soldiers are concentrated along the frontier, with some 20,000 reportedly stationed near the Donetsk and Luhansk “republics”.ĭiplomatic talks have failed to ease rising tensions. In recent weeks, Russia has built up its military presence along its border with Ukraine.

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