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When Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine, the world was quick to react. Headlines screamed of invasions, economic sanctions, and political blame games. But beneath the surface, there’s much more to Russia’s plans in Ukraine than meets the eye. To fully grasp the unfolding crisis, one must dig deeper into the motivations, strategies, and long-term objectives driving Moscow’s actions. Here’s what they won’t tell you about Russia’s plans in Ukraine.
1. A relationship that is very complicated
Russia has always been interested in Ukraine. There are strong political, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries that go back hundreds of years. For Russia, Ukraine is more than just a neighboring country. It is the home of the Russian Orthodox Church and Kievan Rus, a medieval state that is seen as Russia’s ancestor.
Moscow thinks that losing Ukraine to Western influence is not only bad for politics, but also bad for culture and history. Russia’s policy toward Ukraine is based on this deep-rooted connection. The Kremlin sees Ukraine as an important buffer zone against NATO growth.
