15 Defining Moments That Led to the War in Ukraine

It’s been more than three years since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. But what exactly led to that decision? We’ve looked back through history and identified 15 pivotal events that paved the way to Putin’s war.

1. 1991 – Ukraine Declares Independence

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine declared independence on August 24, 1991. It was a major geopolitical loss for Russia and the beginning of a new path for Ukraine — free from Moscow’s control.

2. 1994 – Ukraine Gives Up Its Nuclear Arsenal

In the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to give up the world’s third-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. — guarantees that would later be broken.

3. 2004 – The Orange Revolution

Mass protests erupted in Ukraine after widespread claims of election fraud. Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych was forced to step aside, and pro-European leaders took power — a major blow to the Kremlin.

4. 2008 – NATO Membership Promise

At a NATO summit in Bucharest, Ukraine and Georgia were promised future membership. For Russia, this crossed a red line, signaling a threat to its sphere of influence.

5. 2010 – Yanukovych Returns to Power

Viktor Yanukovych made a political comeback and won the presidency. He steered Ukraine back toward Russia and extended Russia’s naval lease on the Crimean Peninsula.

6. 2013 – EU Agreement Rejected, Protests Begin

In November 2013, Yanukovych suddenly rejected a long-negotiated association agreement with the EU. The decision triggered mass protests in Kyiv’s Maidan Square — known as the Euromaidan movement.

7. 2014 – Yanukovych Flees, New Government Installed

After deadly clashes between protesters and security forces, Yanukovych fled to Russia. A new pro-Western government took over — something Moscow saw as an illegal coup.

8. 2014 – Russia Annexes Crimea

In March, Russian troops occupied Crimea. A disputed referendum followed, and Russia officially annexed the peninsula — a move condemned globally and widely seen as illegal.

9. 2014 – War Breaks Out in Donbas

Pro-Russian separatists, backed by Moscow, declared the “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk. A brutal war began in eastern Ukraine, eventually claiming more than 14,000 lives before 2022.

10. 2014 – MH17 Is Shot Down

A Malaysian passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine by Russian-backed forces using a Russian-made BUK missile. All 298 people on board were killed, and international outrage followed.

11. 2015 – Minsk II Peace Deal

A new ceasefire deal, Minsk II, was signed to reduce violence in Donbas. But it was never fully implemented, and low-intensity warfare continued for years.

12. 2019 – Zelenskyy Elected President

Comedian and political outsider Volodymyr Zelenskyy won the presidency with promises of reform and peace in Donbas. He sought closer ties with the West — something Putin fiercely opposed.

13. 2021 – Russia Builds Up Troops at the Border

In 2021, Russia began amassing large numbers of troops and heavy weapons near Ukraine’s border. Western intelligence grew alarmed, but Russia denied any plans for invasion.

14. 2021 – Putin Demands Security Guarantees

In December, Putin demanded that NATO promise never to admit Ukraine as a member. The West rejected the ultimatum — and tensions soared.

15. 2022 – The Invasion Begins

On February 21, 2022, Russia officially recognized the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine. Three days later — on February 24 — Russian tanks rolled across the border. The war had begun.