5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine – and why the US is involved 2/28/22, 9:42 PM

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Russian soldiers take part in military drills in the Rostov region of Russia, near Ukraine’s border, on Dec. 10, 2021. Associated Press

5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine – and

why the US is involved
Published: January 21, 2022 8.40am EST •Updated: February 12, 2022 2.03pm EST

Tatsiana Kulakevich
Assistant Professor of instruction at School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, affiliate professor at the Institute on Russia, University of South Florida

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U.S. officials ordered most of the U.S. embassy personnel in Kyiv to evacuate on Feb. 12, as they warned
that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come any day. President Joe Biden cautioned Russian
President Vladimir Putin of “swift and severe” costs of any such invasion.

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Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several
months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraine’s neighboring
countries: Poland and Romania.

In mid-January, Russia began moving troops into Belarus, a country bordering both Russia and
Ukraine, in preparation for joint military exercises in February.

Putin has issued various security demands to the U.S. before he draws his military forces back. Putin’s
list includes a ban on Ukraine from entering NATO, and agreement that NATO will remove troops and
weapons across much of Eastern Europe.

There’s precedent for taking the threat seriously: Putin already annexed the Crimea portion of Ukraine
in 2014.

Ukraine’s layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today — and why it is
continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Vladimir Putin about de-escalating Russia’s military presence along the Russian-
Ukranian border on Dec. 7, 2021. Adam Schultz/The White House via AP

What should we know about Ukrainians’ relationship with Russia?

Ukraine gained independence 30 years ago, after the fall of the Soviet Union. It has since struggled to
combat corruption and bridge deep internal divisions.

Ukraine’s western region generally supported integration with Western Europe. The country’s eastern
side, meanwhile, favored closer ties with Russia.

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Tensions between Russia and Ukraine peaked in February 2014, when violent protesters ousted
Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, in what is now known as the Revolution of
Dignity.

Around the same time, Russia forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukraine was in a vulnerable position for self-
defense, with a temporary government and unprepared military.

Putin immediately moved to strike in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The armed conflict between
Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists has killed over 14,000 people.

Unlike its response to Crimea, Russia continues to officially deny its involvement in the Donbas conflict.

What do Ukrainians want?

Russia’s military aggression in Donbas and the annexation of Crimea have galvanized public support for
Ukraine’s Western leanings.

Ukraine’s government has said it will apply for European Union membership in 2024, and also has
ambitions to join NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who came to power in 2019, campaigned on a platform of
anti-corruption, economic renewal and peace in the Donbas region.

In September 2021, 81% of Ukrainians said they have a negative attitude about Putin, according to the
Ukrainian news site RBC-Ukraine. Just 15% of surveyed Ukrainians reported a positive attitude towards
the Russian leader.

Russia forcibly annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, establishing new Ukraine and Russian borders. Getty Images

Why is Putin threatening to invade Ukraine?

Putin’s decision to engage in a military buildup along Ukraine is connected to a sense of impunity. Putin
also has experience dealing with Western politicians who champion Russian interests and become
engaged with Russian companies once they leave office.

Western countries have imposed mostly symbolic sanctions against Russia over interference in the 2020
U.S. presidential elections and a huge cyberattack against about 18,000 people who work for companies
and the U.S. government, among other transgressions.

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Without repercussions, Putin has backed Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown
on mass protests in the capital city, Minsk.

In several instances, Putin has seen that some leading Western politicians align with Russia. These
alliances can prevent Western countries from forging a unified front to Putin.

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, for example, advocated for strategic cooperation
between Europe and Russia while he was in office. He later joined Russian oil company Rosneft as
chairman in 2017.

Other senior European politicians promoting a soft position toward Russia while in office include former
French Prime Minister François Fillon and former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl. Both joined
the boards of Russian state-owned companies after leaving office.

What is Putin’s end game?

Putin views Ukraine as part of Russia’s “sphere of influence” – a territory, rather than an independent
state. This sense of ownership has driven the Kremlin to try to block Ukraine from joining the EU and
NATO.

In January 2021, Russia experienced one of its largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Tens of
thousands of Russians protested in support of political opposition leader Alexei Navalny, following his
detention in Russia. Navalny had recently returned from Germany, where he was treated for being
poisoned by the Russian government.

Putin is also using Ukraine as leverage for Western powers lifting their sanctions. Currently, the U.S. has
various political and financial sanctions in place against Russia, as well as potential allies and business
partners to Russia.

A Russian attack on Ukraine could prompt more diplomatic conversations that could lead to concessions
on these sanctions.

The costs to Russia of attacking Ukraine would significantly outweigh the benefits.

While a full scale invasion of Ukraine is unlikely, Putin might renew fighting between the Ukrainian
army and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers stand together, marking Ukrainian Armed Forces Day in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2021. Photo by STR/NurPhoto
via Getty Images

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Why would the US want to get involved in this conflict?

With its annexation of Crimea and support for the Donbas conflict, Russia has violated the Budapest
Memorandum Security Assurances for Ukraine, a 1994 agreement between the U.S., United Kingdom
and Russia that aims to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for its commitment to give up its
nuclear arsenal.

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Putin’s threats against Ukraine occur as he is moving Russian forces into Belarus, which also raises
questions about the Kremlin’s plans for invading other neighboring countries.

Military support for Ukraine and political and economic sanctions are ways the U.S. can make clear to
Moscow that there will be consequences for its encroachment on an independent country. The risk,
otherwise, is that the Kremlin might undertake other military and political actions that would further
threaten European security and stability.

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