Where Is Trump Wrong? A Brief History of the War Between Russia and Ukraine

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and escalated in 2022 with a full-scale Russian invasion, is the result of long-term Russian aggression against Ukraine. Despite these facts, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that Ukraine is responsible for the conflict, asserting that it had the opportunity to reach a deal with Russia and thus avoid war.

Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator without elections” and demanding that elections be held in Ukraine, despite the fact that the current wartime conditions, declared in response to the Russian invasion, make holding elections impossible.

However, these statements contradict reality. Russian aggression against Ukraine began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, leading to widespread fighting and devastation of Ukrainian territory. Throughout this time, Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian aggression, striving to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump’s assertion that Ukraine could have reached an agreement with Russia and avoided war ignores the fact that Russia has repeatedly violated international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty. Moreover, any such agreements would likely have resulted in the restriction of Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, which is unacceptable for Ukraine.

The criticism of President Zelensky as a “dictator without elections” is also misleading. Zelensky was democratically elected in 2019, and his mandate has been extended in accordance with the Ukrainian constitution due to the state of war, which prevents the holding of elections. Such measures are common in countries facing armed conflicts on their territory.

Trump’s statements not only misrepresent the actual course of events but also support Russian propaganda, which seeks to shift the blame for the conflict onto Ukraine. It is crucial to recognize that Russia bears full responsibility for the current war, having violated international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty through its aggressive policies and military actions.


A Brief History of the War Between Russia and Ukraine

2014: The Beginning of the Conflict

In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea following a controversial referendum, which was not recognized by the international community. Fighting then erupted in eastern Ukraine, where Russia supported separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The conflict claimed thousands of lives and led to the signing of the Minsk agreements, which were meant to freeze the situation but were never fully implemented.

2022: Full-Scale Invasion

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine with the goal of quickly taking control of the country. However, Ukraine managed to defend Kyiv and push back Russian forces. The war then turned into a prolonged battle of attrition, during which Ukraine, with Western support, liberated parts of the occupied territories, including Kherson and the Kharkiv region.

2023–2024: War of Attrition

The war became a positional conflict. Both Russia and Ukraine conducted offensives with limited success. The West continued to support Ukraine with military aid, while Russia increased mobilization efforts and intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Current Situation (2025)

The war continues without a clear winner. Ukraine fights for its sovereignty with limited resources, while Russia seeks to leverage its numerical superiority. International diplomacy is attempting to find a resolution, but peace negotiations have so far yielded no breakthrough.


Discover more from War History Archive

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *