WHY DOES THE WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IS CONTINUE?

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, with no end in sight. Despite multiple ceasefires and peace talks, the war rages on. So why does the war between Ukraine and Russia

The origins of the conflict lie in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, which led to the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych. In response, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and began supporting separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, where a conflict erupted.

Russia's annexation of Crimea was widely condemned by the international community, and sanctions were imposed on Russia by Western countries. However, Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine has continued, and the conflict has become a proxy war between Russia and the West.

One reason why the war continues is that both sides have entrenched positions and are unwilling to compromise. Ukraine wants to regain control of its territory, while Russia wants to maintain its influence in the region. The separatists in eastern Ukraine, who are backed by Russia, have also been unwilling to negotiate a settlement.

Another factor contributing to the continuation of the war is the lack of a strong international response. While the international community has condemned Russia's actions and imposed sanctions, there has been little action beyond that. The United States and other Western countries have provided military and economic aid to Ukraine, but they have not intervened militarily to help Ukraine regain control of its territory.

Russia, on the other hand, has been able to provide significant military and financial support to the separatists in eastern Ukraine. This has allowed the conflict to continue, as the separatists are able to resist Ukrainian military advances.

The war has also become intertwined with domestic politics in both Ukraine and Russia. In Ukraine, politicians have used the conflict to rally support and distract from other issues, while in Russia, the conflict has been used to bolster Putin's popularity and distract from economic problems.

In addition, the conflict has become a source of propaganda for both sides, with both Ukraine and Russia using the media to spin the narrative in their favour. This has made it difficult for the international community to get a clear picture of what is happening on the ground.

Finally, the war continues because there is no clear path to peace. While there have been multiple ceasefires and peace talks, none have been successful in ending the conflict. The most recent ceasefire, which was agreed to in July 2020, has been repeatedly violated, and fighting has continued.

In conclusion, the war between Ukraine and Russia continues due to entrenched positions, lack of international action, domestic politics, propaganda, and the lack of a clear path to peace. While there have been some efforts to resolve the conflict, it is unlikely that the war will end anytime soon without significant intervention and compromise from both sides.