The Russia-Ukraine war has been one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe in decades. It has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. Unless there is a ceasefire soon, the conflict could spiral into a full-scale humanitarian disaster that could threaten the entire global economy.

The war began on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. It has since sparked a huge refugee crisis and destroyed public infrastructure.

Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 6.5 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine. Another 7.6 million have fled into neighboring countries. Most of those displaced are women and children.

Despite the massive destruction, many Ukrainians have remained committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. A number of documents have been approved by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly supporting the country’s sovereignty.

But Russia has not renounced its aggressive intentions. Moscow has not stopped its shelling of civilians and destroying their homes. Rather, it has continued to target civilian infrastructure, especially in Kiev and the Luhansk region.

Ukraine’s military has been strong. Russian forces have suffered heavy losses and significant quantities of weaponry have been destroyed or captured. They have also been forced to withdraw to the east bank of the Dnepr River.

However, there is no guarantee that the conflict will end peacefully. The Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbas region are still de facto in control of the area. In early April, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new quasi-state called Novorossiya.