On 24 February, the Russian military entered Ukrainian territory. That started the most significant war in Europe after the second world war. Why is this happening? I am writing it despite this is about politics, culture, trade, and many other things. The reason is that history affects many things here. So, let’s start from the start.
The starting point of Russian culture is in Kyiv.
Without Ukraine and Kyiv, Russia is a country. With Ukraine and Kyiv, Russia is an empire.
As per Wikipedia, Kyiv (sometimes spelled Kiev) is the largest city and the capital of Ukraine, as well as the historical capital of Kievan Rus. Kyiv officially celebrates its founding year as 482, but the city may date back at least 2,000 years. Legend states that three brothers, Kyi, Shchek, and Khoryv, and their sister Lybid, founded the city. Kyiv thus takes its name from Kyi, the eldest brother. Kyiv reached its Golden Age as the center of Kievan Rus in the 10th–12th centuries. Its political, but not cultural, importance drastically declined when, in 1169, it was pillaged by the troops of Andrey Bogolyubsky. In the following centuries, the city functioned as a provincial capital of marginal importance in the outskirts of the territories controlled by its powerful neighbors: the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its successor, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Tsardom of Russia, which later became the Russian Empire. Kyiv prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. In the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the city, caught in the middle of several conflicts, served as the capital of several short-lived Ukrainian states. From 1921 the town was part of the Soviet Union, and from 1934 was the capital of Soviet Ukraine. During World War II, the city was destroyed almost entirely but quickly recovered in the post-war years, becoming the third most important city of the Soviet Union, the capital of the second-most populous Soviet republic. It now remains the capital of Ukraine, independent since 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
For some time, Kyiv was part of Poland also.
So, what is the reason for this war? Why is the Russian military destroying one country, formerly the Ukrainian soviet socialist republic, whose capital city is the starting point of the Russian empire? Why the Ukrainian public loves the West more than Russia? Why did Putin want to DENAZIFY it? Nazi? What are they doing here?
This is something way bigger than NATO Vs. CSTO. This connects Napoleon, which shows how much Russia is geographically vulnerable to attacks, and this is something no one loves happened.
The second world war was one worst time when we saw some worst colors of the human race. That end also started the Cold war and other factors. after the second world war, allied countries decided to give east Europe under Stalin’s leadership, which was starting point of all things. His duty was to oversee elections, free and fair. But that never happened. East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Armenia, Bulgaria. All ended up having communist governments. Churchill called it the iron curtain, which as per some, we may see, coming again into existence after the war.
NATO was established in 1949. It was a small group of countries. Founder members were the United States, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. This was seen as an indirect war against USSR. Under the marshal plan, the US government helped European nations for their betterment and to build themselves after the destruction of the world war. Berlin as it was broken into two parts, even if 100 miles under deep behind soviet lines. East berlin and west berlin were utterly different tales. That was the starting point of this all. With time West Germany joined NATO. One thing was sure here, USSR was leading in the space race with nuclear warheads and weapons. But the standard of living was not much developed. East Berlin and west berlin were in stark contrast. This forced many to relocate to West Germany. This ended up reducing the workforce in factories, primarily in East Germany. That was the time when the famous berlin wall was built.
13 August 1961. Berlin was divided into 2. with time, the wall was built. A simple wall. But that wall was way more important in history. So if someone told President Kennedy that Whenever this is destroyed, that will be one big event in history, and that event will mark the division of era in time, that should sound like a joke.
Here We need to welcome Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. He was a very energetic youth, working in KGB in Princeton, east Germany. He wasn’t undercover espionage. But on a simple counterintelligence work, the one who wrote conspiracy theories, A job that may be looked simple but helped him big. The fall of the berlin wall affected him directly as a lieutenant colonel; he was in office in Dresden, Germany. When MOB came marching, He called Moscow head office to receive further orders. One military officer told him that everyone was busy. And Mr. Putin didn’t accept any orders. Some people mentioned that it was a point when Mr. Putin first saw a mob, which made a big difference. Before he returned to Russia, statues were coming down. It was the end of the USSR.
After Mr. Putin returned to St. Petersburg, he was an unemployed KGB spy. It was a time Anatoly Sobchak was elected as mayor. He was interestingly a Law professor of Putin. Sobchak was in search of someone who understood the European language. Someone who knows Europe. Sobchak told him that KGB people were not mad. So, if they gave you a job, you were having something good. You are not an idiot. Sobchak died in 2000. His wife mentioned in one documentary that her husband never regretted his decision to keep Putin. One political analyst highlight why. St Petersburg made a name for itself in the nineties as the crime capital of Russia. However, how much this was true and how much the reputation relied on discrediting journalism and gangster films is a debatable point. The city is also a mecca of cultural, historical, and architectural landmarks. Tsar Peter I (the Great) Founded the city as Russia’s “window on Europe.
Putin becomes Deputy Mayor. His Job was primarily in economic relations. So naturally, he is keeping in good contact with foreign companies. After that, he decided to make his documentary. When producers and camera operators came to shoot it, they found many unfamiliar people. Putin was talking with them very quickly.
In 1996, Sobchak lost the election and faced another fraud prosecution. Putin helped him come out of it. The Moscow government noticed this. This was not shocking as Yeltsin was also facing many such. There were cases about handing public companies to oligarchs. So, Yeltsin needed someone who would help him. During this time, Putin must have been convinced by Yeltsin that both of them held a democratic vision because Yeltsin made Putin his Prime Minister. 2nd most powerful person. Before Putin, he changed four people as Prime minister. Putin was fifth. A former spy and progressive leader trying to lead Russia. What an odd leadership. Many people react to this as who that guy? is, as no one knows him.
Then came apartment bombings. Many called them Russia’s 9/11. The Russian apartment bombings were a series of explosions that hit four apartment blocks in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk in September 1999, killing more than 300 and injuring more than 1,000. There was suspicion about who did it. But as per the government, it was done by the Chechnya separatist group. Just a few weeks into his career as prime minister, he came on television. Relatively unknown face. Declare that Russia will take revenge for this. In the words of Putin,” we will find the terrorist, and we will hunt them down. we will be chasing them everywhere. At airports or in toilets.” lesser-known face becoming well known. Russia attacked with force.
Some people were not buying what the government said. What is a Chechen trail? What is the proof? Some people who tried to investigate ended up in jail. Questions were raised when the government system showed up in all cases, and bulldozers were removing everything. But one thing opened pandora’s box after four bombings. The fifth bomb was discovered in Ryazan in a building. Some residents found the fifth bomb. A defused one. That was not looking like a Chechen bomb. There were attempts at what happened in Ryazan. But nothing happened.
31 December 1999. Moscow. Boris Yeltsin shocked everyone. President declares that he is resigning. Putin is his successor. “I want to ask you for forgiveness. For what I didn’t achieve. For our dreams didn’t come true.” painful words. The new President escorted the old President outside of the kremlin. “Take care of Russia,” Yeltsin said to Putin.
The first action of Putin was to give immunity to Yeltsin.
First Promised to People, Strength. From the first day, He shows himself as a leader of the 21st century. Many photoshoots. Video recording. Media manipulation is what he learned.
Test of all this came into June 2000. US president Bill Clinton visited Russia. When two presidents meet, it is more like protocol. But later that day, Clinton went to Boris Yeltsin. Clinton told him during their meeting that I was a little bit concerned about this guy. He doesn’t have democracy in his heart.” Clinton pokes to his heart. In the future, his wife realizes how true that was. Close people of Boris Yeltsin said he agreed in the last days of his life. He said it was a great mistake.
One big event happened in his career, indicating what he believed—the Beslan school hostage crisis. The Beslan hostage crisis turned out to be the deadliest terror attack in modern Russia’s history. The rebels took approximately 1,200 children and adults hostage at the school without providing food or water for three days. This was looking like a crisis that would damage Putin and his image. But he did not back down. He ordered the military into school. A tragedy happened. Many children died. Many of them burned alive.
Ukraine war maybe looks like one great aggression, and it is beyond doubt. But when you see the big picture, you will realize that the most extensive plan is going on. Check what is happening with all former Soviet Union countries. in his 2005 speech, he called the fall of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe in the 20th century. In his office, the kremlin, he kept the image of peter the great. The same Peter the Great built St Petersburg as a window of Europe to Russia. This will give you an idea of his big plan. Putin saw that as lost land which belonged to Russia. As per him, there is a so-called. Some so-called Nazis control it and are now headed by one clown. US support them. So, this is war with the US.
If you start putting every piece into its place, you will realize that the Ukraine war is part of an extensive plan to control all of them from Moscow. Of course, Putin officially always denies it, but after some simple analysis, even you start thinking twice about it.
Crimea was the start of that big plan. You may think that Sevastopol is a better port than what Russia controls. Yes. Agreed. But Donbas? Russian forces in Crimea only to protect the Russian people. From whom? Sevastopol is the answer. Plus, Turkey is building the Istanbul canal. If that took place, US ships could quickly enter close to Russia. Currently, they are not. Due to some contracts, the Bosphorus strait is not entirely used for politics, so NATO can’t use it for military purposes.
In simple words, if you think the final goal is like the game of chess, you are already in half the fun. Putin simply doesn’t want war. It was Ukraine. The last bencher refused to obey the order.
Belarus. Many think this is an extension of Russia. Their leader, Alexander Lukashenko, the last dictator in Europe to receive power, may be due to the help of Putin, as many of his opponents were jailed. In the current war, Belarus was also one part. Just like Russia, Belarus is already facing sanctions. Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has been the first and only President of Belarus since the establishment of the office on 20 July 1994. Putin is his only lifeline. Even if the country didn’t want to return to Russia, 30000 Russian soldiers are sitting there indefinitely. Reason? 17 % of their population is Russian. Belarus is the perfect example of what will happen to Ukraine if they fail to protect their own country.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan Border is so big that it would be difficult for Putin to handle if that went to war. There negotiating is the plan. The opportunity just came—the 2019 election. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev asked for help. In 2022 January protest took place. Putin sends 2500 Russian troops. If you added Turkmenistan to the list, then this was more visible. The leader who came to power was such a thing as shocking. A country that was never monarchies elected someone who was the son of their former leader by 70+% votes. Just after the election concluded, Putin was the first to congratulate him. Shocking. Russia and Turkmenistan signed economic cooperation program just after the former leader died. The current leader is the son of the former leader. Another wow. This deal will help the country handle inflation and aces natural gas supply.
Turkmenistan didn’t say a word against the actions of Russia in Ukraine.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia. Armenia and Azerbaijan are having conflict due to Nagorno Karabakh. this can be another opportunity for Putin to send troops to the area by saying peace is essential. Armenia supported the annexation of Crimea. Azerbaijan rejected it. Russia already holds a military base in Armenia. in Gyumri. The problem is Armenia didn’t share a border with Russia. There come to Georgia. War has already happened. Russia claimed south Ossetia and supported separatists just as they did with Donets and Luhansk. Georgia is essential if you want to make a road from Russia to Armenia. Just like Mariupol connects Donbas and Crimea on land. Due to this, Georgia wants to join NATO. Russia opposes it. NATO says this is their own decision. Remarkably the same with Ukraine.
Moldova. or you may say Transnistria. many talks about this. Somehow, Alexander Lukashenko once highlighted it by mistake, and since then, many people have thought it was time for them. 1500 Russian troops are already there. Another part is Tiraspol which holds 10000 Russian soldiers. Against Moldavians army is only 7500. No chance.
Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Baltic countries. Full-on NATO members. But this has its issue—the souvlaki gap or Lithuania Poland border. A simple road connects them with Poland. The small patch connects 3 Baltic countries; the moment that is gone, it is all gone; Kaliningrad is already part of where Russia keeps its military.
So why attack Ukraine. Simple. Ukraine wants to join, But IT is not that simple. Turkey is building the Istanbul canal plus Ukraine. Join NATO and finish. The US will have access to Russian Borders directly. That is not that easy. Nearly half part wants o to connect to Russia, and another half want to join NATO. As per April 2017 poll, 53%Ukraine people wish to communicate with NATO. In 1997, the NATO Ukraine commission was set up, which was the start of all this. 2008, Ukraine finalizes its decision to join NATO. 2017 Ukraine parliament made a resolution which was a step toward NATO. 16 December 2021. Meeting between Ukrainian president Zelensky and NATO chief.
But that is not the start. Start happened in 2014. The protest takes place in Ukraine. Interestingly it was the same year when Winter Olympics were happening in Russia. Putin saw this as a distraction. He didn’t like it. That is when Crimea’s annexation and since Putin start supporting Donbas separatists. Russia gives Ukraine the temptation of a big loan if they deny joining and promise to provide gas at a lower price. At that time, Ukraine leader Viktor Yanukovych accepted it. He canceled the EU deal. That started student Protest in November 2013. Ukraine’s government used force on the people organized in independence square. Some laws were passed that oppressed the right of speech and more restrictions. Against those laws, a revolution happened. Revolution of dignity. 2014. exactly on time for the Sochi Winter Olympics. In reporting on those protests, Some US media found their Officers were giving people sandwiches, juice, and water. Putin Remembered his time in Germany. Some sources also said that the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi affected him as they were friends. Viktor Yanukovych responds with more force. Around the end of Feb, the Ukrainian President was impeached. New President, Petro Poroshenko, signed the EU agreement. 27 June 2014. Just after that, Crimea’s annexation takes place. The Russian government set up a fence between Crimea and Ukraine. Ukraine’s government broke a significant water supply to Crimea. That is also one reason why Russia wants to control Ukraine.
While writing this Netherland and Finland expressed their interest in joining NATO. So, this all makes it more attractive as war is not helping any of Putin’s interests and wishes.
