A war in Ukraine could speed up Europe’s shift to a greener energy system. Depending on how much fossil fuels governments want and how long the conflict lasts, a war in Ukraine could actually have a positive impact on the global energy transition. It has also been reported that Ukrainians entering Poland through one border crossing were greeted by an Italian pianist playing beautiful music. Even the game industry has rallied to help Ukraine by raising $144 million for humanitarian aid. One example is the partnership between Microsoft, NPR, and Epic Games.

In 1917, Ukraine briefly experienced independence. A socialist government known as the Ukrains’ka Narodna Respublika was formed, but this failed to resist the Bolshevik advance and fell in 1918. Then in the 1920s, a conservative monarchist government was elected in Ukraine. The next year, the government was replaced by the socialist UNR government, which was led by Symon Petliura. But in the early 1930s, the Ukrainian people were once again subjected to the Nazis’ repression.

The Carpathian Mountains are considered the true national symbol of Ukraine. These mountains are protected by UNESCO and share territory with seven countries, including Romania and Belarus. The region is ideal for mountain biking, skiing, and other winter sports. Other outdoor activities in Ukraine include parachuting, scuba diving, horseback riding, and paintball. In addition, the country is home to the oldest monastery in Eastern Europe, the Monastery of Caves on Berestov Mount. This monastery was founded in 1051 and has historically been one of the most important Orthodox Christian centers in Eastern Europe.

While Putin’s claims that the country was not a country are false on two counts, it is important to understand the history and political relationship between Russia and Ukraine. While Russia created the modern Ukraine, it was first inhabited by the Kyivan Rus people, who were Scandinavian traders who influenced Russia’s name. Later, it was incorporated into Poland and Lithuania and the Russian Empire, and eventually by Austria-Hungary. The country was briefly recognized as an independent nation after World War I, which in turn sparked Ukrainian nationalist movements.

Before the 18th century, most of what is now Ukraine was formally governed by the Polish-Lithuanian nobility. Before this period, most of the population of the region was Orthodox and constituted semi-autonomous Cossacks. These Cossacks had a close relationship with Muscovite Russia, but did not want to be a part of it. Eventually, the Zaporizhian Cossacks established a modicum of control over the region, and in the 17th century they had largely occupied the area.

The eastern boundaries of Ukraine can be traced back to the period from 1918 to the Soviet Union. President Vladimir Putin made reference to this boundary in his March 18 speech to the Russian parliament. In the 1920s, the Bolsheviks carved large portions of the historical South of Russia into Ukraine without considering the ethnic composition of the populations. Vladimir Putin reiterated this claim in the Russian parliament on March 18, 2014.