Fact Check: "Ukraine started the war"
What We Know
The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is misleading and not supported by the historical context of the conflict. The current war in Ukraine began with Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, which was preceded by a significant military buildup along Ukraine's borders and a series of aggressive actions by Russia, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine (Background - Russo-Ukrainian War).
In a speech on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out grievances against Ukraine, asserting that Ukraine's sovereignty and identity were illegitimate and that Russia had a historical claim to its territory (Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict). This rhetoric framed the invasion as a "special military operation" aimed at "liberating" Ukraine from its current government, which Putin characterized as "Nazi," despite the fact that Ukraine's president is Jewish (Background - Russo-Ukrainian War).
The conflict has deep historical roots, with tensions escalating significantly after Ukraine's Euromaidan Revolution in 2014, which led to a pro-Western government and a rejection of closer ties with Russia. Following this, Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, leading to a prolonged conflict that resulted in over 14,000 deaths and massive displacement (Background - Russo-Ukrainian War).
Analysis
The assertion that Ukraine started the war ignores the clear evidence of Russian aggression and the context of the conflict. The invasion was initiated by Russia, which had been amassing troops along the Ukrainian border for months prior to the attack. This buildup was accompanied by a series of hostile actions and rhetoric from the Russian government, which sought to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity (Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict).
Moreover, the narrative that Ukraine is responsible for the war often stems from Russian propaganda, which seeks to justify its military actions by portraying Ukraine as the aggressor. This perspective is not supported by credible historical analysis or international consensus. The international community widely recognizes Russia's invasion as an act of aggression against a sovereign nation (Background - Russo-Ukrainian War; Russia - Ukraine Crisis: Timeline of Crisis and Updates).
Sources that support the claim of Ukrainian aggression often lack credibility and are biased towards Russian narratives. In contrast, reputable analyses from institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) emphasize the historical context of Russian imperial ambitions and the legitimacy of Ukraine's statehood and identity (Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict).
Conclusion
The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is False. The evidence clearly shows that the war was initiated by Russia through a full-scale invasion, following years of escalating tensions and military actions against Ukraine. The narrative of Ukraine as the aggressor is rooted in Russian propaganda and does not reflect the realities of the conflict or the historical context.
