UKRAINE

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UKRAINE POLITICAL GUIDE & RUSSIAN RELATIONS

Discover the complex world of Ukrainian politics and learn how you can actively support peace and human rights. Our comprehensive guide offers you in-depth information on the ongoing Russian invasion, Donbas, the East Ukraine civil war, the 2014 Crimea crisis, corruption, oligarchs, and fascism.

Connect with thousands of valuable resources, news sources, peace initiatives, and civil society organisations – for genuine nonviolent solutions, a stronger democracy, and a sustainable future for Ukraine.

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Ukraine

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General Information

Explore the inner workings of the Ukraine government including current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, elections, economics, and relations with NATO and Russia. Find over 11,000 handpicked links to key political information that has shaped decades of conflict and suffering, including the current war in Ukraine.

Our guide to the Russian Invasion highlights peace voices and negotiations, expert analysis, and delivers extensive information on the refugee crisis, economic impacts, NATO involvement, human rights issues, conscientious objection and protests, massive weapons exports by the West into Ukraine, voices for peace and how you can help.

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What Is The History Between Ukraine, Russia & NATO?

Back in the year 2000 in a BBC interview, Putin was quoted saying ‘Russia is a part of European culture. Therefore, it is with difficulty that I imagine NATO as an enemy.’ When asked about the possibility of joining Nato, he even went as far to say ‘Why not?’ as long as ‘Russia’s views are taken into account as those of an equal partner.’

Later in 2001, just a few weeks after the 9/11 attacks, during a speech to the German Bundestag, Putin announced unprecedented co-operation between Russia and the U.S., and again shared his vision of Russia’s European future.

Relations however had soured by the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, where Eastern Expansion into Ukraine and Georgia was hot on the agenda. Fears regarding the increased polarisation and militarisation of the giant defence alliance were being felt by Russia.

The relationship between Russia and NATO has been strained for decades. After the peaceful reunification of Germany in 1990 and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, experts warned that expansion of the Nato alliance would only add further fuel to the fire. Regardless, since 1997, 14 countries in Eastern Europe have acceded. Ukraine began relations with NATO in 1991 but plans for membership were later dropped in 2010.

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Tensions reached breaking point after the illegal coup d' etat at Maidan by fascists and nationalists, followed by Russian infiltration and secession of Crimea in 2014. Despite Ukraine not being a NATO member, NATO pledged full support for Ukrainian sovereignty and has been committed to bolstering Ukrainian defense ever since.

This complex geopolitical situation has been exasperated by misinformation campaigns, citizen repression, false media reporting, intensifying Russophobia, and closure of NGOs.

Better World Info supports a peace first approach, disarmament, nonviolent solutions, and open dialogue. As a participatory platform for the sharing of information, we encourage activists, human and civil rights advocates, and peace experts to share their knowledge and help spread the message of a better world.

Finally, this excellent guide is also available in German at Bessere Welt Info. For a German language version of the Ukraine Conflict resource with over 5,500 links, you can check out the equally informative categories Ukraine and Russische Invasion.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 21.02.23, latest update 14.07.26, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Further reading on Ukraine see below ⬇️