Situation context
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and the Black Sea. It is one of the largest countries in Europe by land area and is known for its extensive agricultural plains, often referred to as part of Europe's 'breadbasket'. Ukraine also has major industrial regions and a long cultural history linked to Kyivan Rus.
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What is Ukraine/Russia situation about?
Ukraine - Overview
What this is about In Security Council discussions, the “Ukraine situation” refers to a conflict that the Council’s record traces back to 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and fighting in eastern Ukraine/Donbas became central to UN debate. It then escalated dramatically with Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. For many UN members and UN briefers, this is fundamentally about Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the UN Charter rule against changing borders by force. Russia presents it differently: Russian representatives say the conflict stems from events after 2014, disputes over Donbas, failures to implement the Minsk agreements, and broader European security concerns. --- Why the Security Council discusses it The Council treats Ukraine as a major issue of international peace and security because it involves: the use of force between States, risks of wider...
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How did the Ukraine/Russia situation evolve over time?
Ukraine - Timeline
Ukraine at the Security Council: how the situation changed over time This reflects past debates and may not reflect current developments. In Security Council discussions, the Ukraine file changed from a localized but entrenched conflict focused on Crimea and eastern Ukraine into a full-scale interstate war with massive humanitarian and global consequences. The biggest turning point was 24 February 2022, when the full-scale invasion began. --- 1) The early phase: Crimea, Donbas, and a long “managed” conflict The timeline supported here begins with the 2014 outbreak of conflict in Crimea and Donbas. In the years that followed, Council discussion focused mainly on: the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, the attempted annexation of Crimea, ceasefire violations along the contact line, and efforts to keep a political settlement alive. By February 2020 (Meeting 8726), speakers were describing a...
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