Here's All About The Ukraine Conflict
Ukraine, located on Russia's southern border, has become the focus of rivalry between Russia and Western powers.
In November 2013, protests broke out in Ukrainian capital Kiev against President Yanukovich's pro-Russia tilt and demanding integration with EU. Despite a repressive reaction from the government, these Euromaidan protests spread and Yanukovich fled Kiev in Feb 2014.
Because of the pro-EU (and pro-West) turn of the government, ethnic Russians in Ukraine were angry. Crimea, with nearly 60% Russian population, was taken over by pro-Russian protestors, supported by Russian army men posted in Sevastopol. In March, Crimea decided to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
This sparked off protests in other parts of Ukraine but it also led pro-Russian armed groups to take over the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, which have large Russian populations.
Kiev based Ukranian government launched a counter offensive, but in May the two provinces merged and declared themselves independent republic of Novorossiya. The US has imposed economic sanctions against Russia for its role in Crimea and Donetsk.
Ukraine, located on Russia's southern border, has become the focus of rivalry between Russia and Western powers. Its population comprises of 78% ethnic Ukrainians, 17% ethnic Russians and the remaining a mix of various nationalities. It is the world's third largest exporter of wheat but depends on Russia for energy needs.
