The Russian-Ukrainian conflict, though recent in its current manifestation, has deep historical roots. Ukraine's tumultuous history is marked by a constant struggle for identity, influence, belonging, and independence, often caught between East and West. Understanding this complex past is crucial to comprehending the current situation.

A key point of contention lies in the historical figure of Vladimir the Great (Volodymyr I), considered a founding father by both Russia and Ukraine. In the 8th century, traders from Scandinavia, along with Slavic tribes, formed the Kievan Rus', a large East Slavic state. In 988, Prince Vladimir christianized the Kievan Rus', ushering in a golden age. This empire later fragmented, with one principality evolving into Moscow, leading both Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus to claim legacy from the Kievan Rus'.

Following the decline of Kievan Rus', much of present-day Ukraine became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Cossacks, celebrated in the Ukrainian national anthem, fought against Polish rule and established an autonomous state called the Hetmanate. However, in 1654, they submitted to Russian Tsarist rule. As the Russian Empire grew, Ukrainian freedoms diminished, leading to the rise of a Ukrainian national movement in the 19th century. Tsar Alexander II suppressed Ukrainian language and culture, promoting 'Little Russia' instead of 'Ukraine'. Russia also expanded into southern Ukraine, calling it 'New Russia', settling it with various ethnic groups, including Russians.

The Donbas region, rich in coal and iron ore, became an industrial center for the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, largely thanks to foreign entrepreneurs like John James Hughes. Meanwhile, some western Ukrainian territories like Galicia and North Bukovina fell under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, which, unlike the Tsarist Empire, recognized Ukrainians (Ruthenians) as an autonomous ethnic group.

After the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the end of World War I, Ukraine briefly gained independence as the Ukrainian People's Republic. However, internal divisions and external pressures from Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and the Red Army led to its swift dissolution. By 1922, the remaining Ukrainian territory became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), part of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet period brought immense suffering. The Holodomor, a devastating famine in 1932-33, caused by Stalin's forced collectivization and policies, resulted in an estimated four million deaths and is considered by many Ukrainians as an act of genocide. World War II saw Ukraine as a major battleground, enduring five years of occupation by Wehrmacht and SS forces. Around eight million Ukrainians, including 1.6 million Jews, perished, and millions more were deported for forced labor. The suffering of Ukrainians during this period is often overshadowed by the broader narrative of Soviet victims, highlighting Ukraine's ongoing struggle for national recognition.

In 1954, Nikita Khrushchev 'gifted' Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR, a move symbolic at the time as both were part of the Soviet Union. However, with the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine declared its independence, which was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum, even by Russian-speaking populations in Donbas and Crimea. In 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, surrendering its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the USA, and the UK regarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Post-Soviet Ukraine faced economic hardship and corruption, leading to the rise of powerful oligarchs. The country also struggled to forge a unified national identity due to differing historical experiences: Western Ukraine leaned towards Europe, while Eastern Ukraine and Crimea felt closer to Russia. This led to a 'multivectorial' foreign policy, balancing between East and West. Both Western powers and Russia sought to exert influence and secure Ukraine as a strategic ally.

The struggle for influence became evident in the 2004 presidential elections, which saw pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko against pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovich. Widespread protests against alleged election fraud, known as the Orange Revolution, led to new elections. Although Yushchenko won, fundamental changes were limited. Five years later, Yanukovich was elected. In 2013, his last-minute decision to reject an association agreement with the EU sparked the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv. The violent suppression of these protests escalated into a mass movement, leading to government crackdowns and over 100 deaths, including from government snipers.

Following the Euromaidan, Russia intervened. In 2014, Russian soldiers annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum. Concurrently, war broke out in Donbas between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists. This conflict remains unresolved, escalating tensions and creating a deadlock. Russia views NATO expansion into Ukraine as a threat, while Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of imperialistic ambitions. The historical context reveals a complex struggle for identity, sovereignty, and geopolitical influence that continues to shape the future of the region.