Eternally Entwined? Russia, Ukraine and the war that cannot be lost

The relationship between Ukraine and Russia is steeped in a rich and complex history, marked by a longstanding legacy of animosity, mistrust, and violence. As the birthplace of Russian civilization, Ukraine has long held immense significance for the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. With the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the USSR, Ukraine gained its much-coveted independence and, as a nascent democracy, began to forge closer ties with Western Europe and the European integration project, seen as a crucial step towards securing its economic future.

But the Russian Federation that emerged from the Soviet Union's collapse never fully accepted Ukraine's political and social emancipation.

In recent years, the Russian Federation has repeatedly sought to counter Ukraine's alignment with the European Union, but with little success. As a result, it has resorted to violence and support for insurgency groups in the country’s eastern regions. The decision by Russia to invade Ukraine on February 24, 2022, stands as one of the most momentous events that will shape the European and global order for decades to come. Only by understanding the profound importance of Ukraine to Russian civilization can we fully appreciate the lengths to which Putin may go to secure victory on the battlefield.