Re-establishing the facts against Russia’s narrative on its invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine, annexed by force to the Soviet Union in 1921, was stripped of independence. Ten years later it endured an artificially created famine, killing millions of Ukrainian women, men and children through deliberate decisions made in Moscow, what is called Holodomor.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) – which included Ukraine – paid the heaviest tribute during World War 2. Twenty-six million people, both military and civilians, died on the side of the Soviet Union, including from Ukraine, which lost almost seven million people, an enormous proportion of its population. Hence, a particular sensitivity to the issue of war applies not only to Russia, but also to Ukraine.

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In the aftermath of World War 2, many current European Union member states were forcefully occupied by the Soviet Union until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the restoration of the independence of these states. Europe faced the monumental challenge of rebuilding its shattered landscapes and political structures. The European security architecture established in 1945 has been pivotal in fostering decades of relative peace and stability. In fact, European nations were planning their future on the premise of peace.

When the reunification of Germany occurred in 1990, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – Nato – never committed to not accepting Ukraine as a member. Countries that had previously been dominated by Moscow, and another military alliance, the Warsaw Pact, learning from experience, chose to join both Nato and the European Union.

There was never a promise made not to bring in new sovereign countries as members. Claiming that is pure disinformation and used by Russia to find a justification for its aggression.

Ukraine’s closening of ties with Nato is not new: it dates back to 1991, when the newly independent Ukraine voluntarily joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council and in 1994 the Partnership for Peace programme. And indeed, at the Bucharest Summit, Nato leaders stated that Ukraine would become a member of the alliance, as a clear component of Ukraine’s right to self defence since regaining independence in 1991.

In 2013, Ukraine experienced the “Maidan Revolution”, a pivotal moment in its recent history where thousands of Ukrainian citizens rallied against corruption and pro-Kremlin politicians and called for closer ties with Europe. This popular movement was a testament to Ukraine’s commitment to democracy and sovereignty, reflecting a collective desire for a prosperous future free from external domination.

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