Fact Check: Ukraine started the war

Fact Check: "Ukraine started the war"

What We Know

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is a misrepresentation of the events leading to the current conflict. The war in Ukraine, particularly the large-scale invasion by Russia that began on February 24, 2022, is widely recognized as an act of aggression initiated by Russia. According to a detailed analysis by Jeffrey Mankoff at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the invasion is characterized as "the biggest threat to peace and security in Europe since the end of the Cold War" (source-1).

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine, which began shortly after Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity. This revolution led to the ousting of a pro-Russian president, which was met with hostility from Moscow (source-3). The narrative that Ukraine initiated the conflict is often propagated by Russian state media, which frames the situation as a defensive response to perceived threats from NATO and Western influence (source-2).

Analysis

The assertion that Ukraine started the war lacks credible evidence and is contradicted by a substantial body of research and historical context. The conflict escalated when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, which was preceded by a series of military buildups and aggressive rhetoric from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a speech on February 21, 2022, Putin outlined grievances against Ukraine, questioning its legitimacy as a state and identity (source-1). This rhetoric indicates a long-standing view within the Russian government that undermines Ukraine's sovereignty.

Furthermore, the timeline of events leading up to the invasion shows that Russia had been actively destabilizing Ukraine since at least 2014, following the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in the Donbas region (source-4). The claim that Ukraine started the war is often rooted in a narrative that seeks to justify Russia's actions by portraying Ukraine as the aggressor, which is not supported by the facts.

The reliability of sources promoting the claim that Ukraine initiated the conflict is questionable, as they often originate from Russian state-controlled media or pro-Russian commentators. In contrast, independent analyses and reports from reputable institutions like CSIS provide a more nuanced and fact-based understanding of the conflict's origins (source-2).

Conclusion

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is False. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Russia initiated the conflict through its invasion and military actions against Ukraine. The narrative that Ukraine is to blame is rooted in disinformation and does not align with the documented history of events leading up to the war.

Sources

1. Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict
2. Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict
3. Background - Russo-Ukrainian War
4. Russian invasion of Ukraine
5. Timeline: The events leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
6. A timeline of Ukraine's history: NPR
7. Russo-Ukrainian War
8. Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia