Ukraine-Russia Timeline: How did we get here?

Ukraine’s history since independence has been marked by political shifts, conflicts, and its evolving relationship with Russia and the West. Here’s a look at key moments leading up to the 2022 invasion.

1991

On Aug. 24, the Ukrainian parliament declares independence. In December, Ukrainians vote to make independence official, approving the declaration by a landslide 92% in favor. The Soviet Union officially dissolves on Dec. 26.

1992

Ukraine formally establishes relations with NATO.

1994

In December, Ukraine’s leaders – along with the U.S., the U.K., and Russia – sign the Budapest Memorandum, in which they agree to trade away the country’s nuclear weapons in exchange for guarantees that the three other signatories will "respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine."

2004

In an election widely believed to have been rigged, Viktor Yanukovych, an ally of Vladimir Putin, defeats pro-democracy candidate Viktor Yushchenko, who was poisoned and became ill in the final months of the campaign.

2008

U.S. President George W. Bush comes out in support of admitting Ukraine to NATO, but France and Germany oppose it after Russia voices displeasure. As a compromise, NATO leaders promise Ukraine will one day be admitted but lay out no specific plan.

2010

Yanukovych is elected president in February. He says Ukraine should be a "neutral state," cooperating with both Russia and Western alliances like NATO.

November 2013 through February 2014

Yanukovych backs away from a free trade agreement with the European Union, citing pressure from Russia. The announcement sparks huge protests, notably in Kyiv's Maidan, also known as Independence Square. In Feb., violence between police and protesters leaves more than 100 dead. Yanukovych flees to Russia and Ukraine's parliament votes to install an interim government, which announces it will sign the EU agreement. Russia calls the change in government an illegal coup and soon Russian soldiers appear at checkpoints and facilities in the Crimean Peninsula.

March 2014

With Russian troops in control of the peninsula, the Crimean parliament votes to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. A public referendum follows, with 97% of voters favoring secession, although the results are disputed.

In response, the U.S. and its allies in Europe impose sanctions on Russia.

April 2014

40,000 Russian troops gather on Ukraine's eastern border and violence breaks out in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Russian-supported separatists storm government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk, declaring independence from Ukraine.

Russia denies that its troops are on Ukrainian soil, but Ukrainian officials insist otherwise.

May 2014

The pro-West politician Petro Poroshenko is elected Ukraine's president. He promotes reform, including measures to address corruption and lessen Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy and financial support.

2019

Comedian and actor Volodymyr Zelenskyy defeats Poroshenko in a landslide. During the campaign, Zelenskyy vowed to make peace with Russia and end the war in the Donbas.

In a phone call with President Trump in July, Zelenskyy requests a visit to the White House to meet with Trump about U.S. backing of Ukraine's efforts to push off Russia. In the call, Trump asks Zelenskyy for “a favor”: an investigation into energy company Burisma and the Bidens. A White House whistleblower complains, leading to Trump's first impeachment in Dec. 2019.

April 2021

Russia sends about 100,000 troops to Ukraine's borders, prompting Zelenskyy to urge NATO leadership to put Ukraine on a timeline for membership.

August 2021

Zelenskyy meets with President Biden at the White House. Biden emphasizes that the U.S. is committed to "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression" but repeats that Ukraine has not yet met the conditions necessary to join NATO.

December 2021

In a phone call, Biden urges Putin not to invade Ukraine, warning of "real costs" if Russia does so. Putin responds with a series of demands, including a guarantee that Ukraine be permanently barred from joining NATO.

January 2022

Leaders and diplomats from the U.S., Russia and European countries meet repeatedly to avert a crisis. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov tells U.S. officials that Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine.

February 2022

Russia continues to build its troop presence on its border with Ukraine. U.S. officials, including Biden, increase the urgency of their warnings, saying that Russia has decided to invade.

On Feb. 21, Putin formally recognizes the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic and orders Russia's military to deploy troops there under the guise of a "peacekeeping" mission. Biden declares this the beginning of a Russian invasion and, together, the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union enact a broad set of sanctions targeting Russian banks and oligarchs. On Feb. 24, Russian forces launch a devastating assault on Ukrainian territory — the largest such military operation in Europe since the end of World War II.