First News - What's going on in Ukraine

A Ukranian soldier in a trench in the east of the country (photo: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

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Ukraine: What's Going On

RUSSIA has invaded Ukraine and started a war. Why did they do that and what’s going on?

Why is Ukraine in the news?

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. But the lead-up to war began last year when Russia began positioning tens of thousands of soldiers along its border with Ukraine – then more inside the country of Belarus, a Russian ally (supporter). Western leaders were worried the Russians were preparing to invade Ukraine. Now that has happened.

Why did Russia invade?

Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

Russia says it wants to know that Ukraine won’t join NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). NATO is an international organisation that guarantees the freedom of its member countries. Russian president Vladimir Putin thinks that if Ukraine joins, it will give the USA and its allies too much power right next to the Russian border. Russia has also demanded NATO removes all troops from Bulgaria and Romania.

NATO members and other countries are against the invasion of Ukraine. They argue that Ukraine should be free to do what it wants and Russia shouldn’t interfere. Western leaders say if Ukraine wants to join NATO, it should be free to do so.

Also, thousands of Russian people who don’t agree with President Putin’s decision to go to war have been protesting in cities across the country.

Are world leaders trying to resolve the crisis?

There have been talks between Russia and Ukraine to try to stop the conflict. The UK, EU, USA and other countries are making it tough for Putin by bringing in sanctions – penalties given to a country that is behaving badly. Sanctions make it difficult for a country to make money, so it can’t carry on as normal.NATO has said it will not respond with direct military support.

Where is Ukraine?

Ukraine sits between Russia and the central European countries of Romania, Slovakia and Poland. To the north is Belarus. From 1919 until 1991, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union (also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – USSR). This was a giant country formed after the Russian Revolution began in 1917. In total, it was made up of 15 states. All of them became independent when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.