About Russian Vs Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin took to the airwaves and announced the start of a “special military operation.” Explosions rattled cities across Ukraine, and sirens began to sound in Kyiv. Western leaders condemned the unprovoked attack and levied a new set of sanctions. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for peace—and promised to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.

His campaign was fueled by bread-and-butter issues that cut across Ukraine’s geographic divides. He argued that Ukraine would not yield its territory or its rights, and that the only way to bring peace to Ukraine was to root out those who would seek to subvert its democracy and economy.

Zelensky also called for an end to Russia’s occupation of the separatist-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. But he left in place a language law that designates Ukrainian as the official state language and requires media outlets to publish in Ukrainian (though they may also publish parallel versions in Russian).

The law has proved a powerful deterrent against those seeking to promote a pro-Russian agenda within Ukraine. Despite the continuing war in the east of the country, Ukrainians are increasingly consolidating behind their national government, particularly those who support Zelensky’s vision for a Ukraine that is united despite its linguistic and regional diversity. For many, the war with Russia is becoming a distant conflict—but one that is not without its costs. The crisis is a manifestation of renewed great-power rivalry and could irreparably harm Russian-Ukrainian relations.