Editing History of Ukraine (section)

==== Russo-Ukrainian War and Western integration ====
{{Main|Russo-Ukrainian War|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|War in Donbas|Ukraine–European Union relations|Ukraine–NATO relations|Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

In March 2014, [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia invaded and annexed Crimea]]. Although official results of a [[2014 Crimean status referendum|referendum]] on Crimean reunification with Russia were reported as showing a large majority in favor of the proposition, the vote was organized under Russian military occupation and was denounced by the European Union and the [[United States]] as illegal.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26606097| title = Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'| date = 10 March 2014| access-date = 4 May 2014
|work = BBC News}}</ref>

[[File:2014-07-31. Батальон «Донбасс» под Первомайском 29.jpg|thumb|left|[[War in Donbas]], [[Pervomaisk, Luhansk Oblast|Pervomaisk]], July 2014]]
The Crimean crisis was followed by [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|pro-Russian unrest]] in [[Eastern Ukraine|east Ukraine]] and [[Southern Ukraine|south Ukraine]].<ref name="Ukraine crisis timeline BBC">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603193226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |date=3 June 2014 }}, [[BBC News]]</ref> In April 2014 Ukrainian separatists [[self-proclaimed]] the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic]] and held [[2014 Donbas status referendums|referendums]] on 11 May 2014; the separatists claimed nearly 90% voted in favor of independence.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/07/310451535/putin-tells-separatists-to-postpone-may-11-referendum Putin Tells Separatists In Ukraine To Postpone 11 May Referendum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319033458/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/07/310451535/putin-tells-separatists-to-postpone-may-11-referendum |date=19 March 2015 }}, [[NPR]] (7 May 2014)<br />{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27360146 | title=Ukraine rebels hold referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk | work=BBC News | date=11 May 2014 | access-date=11 May 2014}}<br />{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/russian-roulette-dispatch-thirty-eight/|title=Russian Roulette (Dispatch Thirty-Eight)|date=13 May 2014|access-date=7 July 2014|newspaper=[[Vice News]]}}</ref><ref name="Ukraine crisis timeline BBC"/> Later in April 2014, fighting between the [[Ukrainian army]] and [[Ukrainian territorial defence battalions|pro-Ukrainian volunteer battalions]] on one side, and forces supporting the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on the other side, escalated into the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]].<ref name="Ukraine crisis timeline BBC"/><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30414955 Ukraine underplays role of far right in conflict] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602182154/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30414955 |date=2 June 2018 }}, [[BBC News]] (13 December 2014)</ref> By December 2014, more than 6,400 people had died in this conflict, and according to [[United Nations]] figures it led to over half a million people becoming [[internally displaced]] within Ukraine and two hundred thousand refugees to flee to (mostly) [[Russia]] and other neighboring countries.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30454746 Fergal Keane reports from Mariupol on Ukraine's 'frozen conflict'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723122836/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30454746 |date=23 July 2016 }}, [[BBC News]] (12 December 2014)</ref><ref>[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49533#.VI4Wv3vX4Yg Half a million displaced in eastern Ukraine as winter looms, warns UN refugee agency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111091846/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49533#.VI4Wv3vX4Yg |date=11 November 2016 }}, [[United Nations]] (5 December 2014)</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28656147 Ukraine conflict: Refugee numbers soar as war rages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708145441/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28656147 |date=8 July 2018 }}, [[BBC News]] (5 August 2014)</ref><ref>[http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-death-toll/27047512.html UN Says At Least 6,400 Killed In Ukraine's Conflict Since April 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223061830/http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-death-toll/27047512.html |date=23 December 2015 }}, [[RFE/RL]] (1 June 2015)</ref> During the same period, political (including adoption of [[Lustration in Ukraine|the law on lustration]] and [[Decommunization in Ukraine|the law on decommunization]]) and economic reforms started.<ref name="carnegie"/> On 25 May 2014, [[Petro Poroshenko]] was elected president<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=Petro Poroshenko becomes President of Ukraine |url=https://www.uawarexplained.com/petro-poroshenko-becomes-president-of-ukraine/?version=sixty-minutes/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=UaWarExplained.com |language=en}}</ref> in the first round of the presidential election. By the second half of 2015, independent observers noted that reforms in Ukraine had considerably slowed down, [[corruption in Ukraine|corruption]] did not subside, and the [[economy of Ukraine]] was still in a deep crisis.<ref name="carnegie">{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/08/19/ukraine-reform-monitor-august-2015/iewe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820123300/http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/08/19/ukraine-reform-monitor-august-2015/iewe|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2015|title=Ukraine Reform Monitor: August 2015|date=August 2015|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-11-06/unreformed-ukraine-is-self-destructing|title=Ukraine Is in Danger of Becoming a Failed State|last=Bershidsky|first=Leonid|date=6 November 2015|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=8 November 2015|archive-date=10 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110025333/http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-11-06/unreformed-ukraine-is-self-destructing|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/25/money-still-rules-ukraine-poroshenko-corruption/|title=Money Still Rules Ukraine|last=Kuzio|first=Taras|date=25 August 2015|work=[[Foreign Policy]]|access-date=22 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://opendemocracy.net/od-russia/mikhail-minakov-maryna-stavniichuk/ukrainian-constitution-reform-or-crisis|title=Ukraine's constitution: reform or crisis?|last1=Minakov|first1=Mikhail|first2=Maryna|last2=Stavniichuk|date=16 February 2016|publisher=OpenDemocracy|access-date=19 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217091235/https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/mikhail-minakov-maryna-stavniichuk/ukrainian-constitution-reform-or-crisis|url-status=dead}}</ref> By December 2015, more than 9,100 people had died (largely civilians) in the war in Donbas,<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=Separate districts of Donbas and Luhansk regions (ORDLO)
 |url=https://www.uawarexplained.com/ldnr/?version=sixty-minutes/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=UaWarExplained.com |language=en}}</ref> according to United Nations figures.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/world/europe/ukraine-conflict-toll.html?_r=0 At Least 9,115 Killed in Ukraine Conflict, U.N. Says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724003009/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/world/europe/ukraine-conflict-toll.html?_r=0 |date=24 July 2016 }}, [[New York Times]] (9 December 2015)<br />[http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-separatists-holiday-cease-fire-violations/27445518.html Kyiv, Separatists Accuse Each Other Of Violating Holiday Cease-Fire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226020428/http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-separatists-holiday-cease-fire-violations/27445518.html |date=26 December 2015 }}, [[Radio Free Europe]] (24 December 2015)</ref>

The [[Budapest Memorandum]]'s fragility became evident in 2014 when Russia annexed [[Crimea]] and began supporting separatist movements in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These actions violated the agreement’s commitments to respect Ukraine's borders and sovereignty. Russia justified its actions by claiming they were protecting Russian-speaking populations, a rationale widely rejected by the international community. Despite protests from Ukraine and [[Western powers]], no direct action was taken to compel Russia to adhere to the memorandum. The crisis exposed the limitations of non-binding agreements, leaving Ukraine in a precarious position and reshaping the global conversation about security assurances and the reliability of international commitments.<ref name="addvr">{{cite news |title=Address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Guarantor States in accordance with the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://uk.mfa.gov.ua/en/press-centr/3732-adress |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine |date=1 March 2014 |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930132229/https://uk.mfa.gov.ua/en/press-centr/3732-adress |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193360.html|title=Ukrainian parliament appeals to Budapest Memorandum signatories|publisher=Interfax Ukraine|date=28 February 2014|access-date=1 March 2014|archive-date=4 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304202441/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193360.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=these are primary sources|date=December 2024}}

On 1 January 2016, Ukraine joined the [[Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area|DCFTA]] with the EU. Ukrainian citizens were granted [[Visa policy of the Schengen Area|visa-free travel]] to the [[Schengen Area]] for up to 90 days during any 180-day period on 11 June 2017, and the Association Agreement formally came into effect on 1 September 2017.<ref name="2017-assoc">{{Cite web |title=European Commission - EU-Ukraine Association Agreement fully enters into force |url=https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3045_en.htm |website=europa.eu}} (Press release)</ref> Significant achievements in the foreign policy arena include support for anti-Russian sanctions, obtaining a visa-free regime with the countries of the [[European Union]], and better recognition of the need to overcome extremely difficult tasks within the country. However, the old local authorities did not want any changes; they were cleansed of anti-Maidan activists ([[Lustration in Ukraine|lustration]]), but only in part. The fight against corruption was launched, but was limited to sentences of petty officials and electronic declarations, and the newly established [[National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine|NABU]] and [[National Agency on Corruption Prevention|NACP]] were marked by scandals in their work. Judicial reform was combined with the appointment of old, compromised judges. The investigation of crimes against Maidan residents was delayed. In order to counteract the massive global [[Russian-Ukrainian information war|Russian anti-Ukrainian propaganda]] of the "information war", the [[Ministry of Information Policy (Ukraine)|Ministry of Information Policy]] was created, which for 5 years did not show effective work, except for the ban on [[Kaspersky Lab]], [[Dr.Web]], [[1C Company|1С]], [[Mail.ru Group|Mail.ru]], [[Yandex]] and Russian social networks [[VK (service)|VKontakte]] or [[Odnoklassniki]] and propaganda media. In 2017, the president signed the law "On Education", which met with opposition from national minorities, and quarreled with the [[Government of Hungary]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starobin |first1=Paul |title=Ukraine's real power broker |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-real-power-broker-yermak-zelensky-russia-war-biden-2023-12?r=US&IR=T&fbclid=IwAR1UEZLoZyZ37Lo5RirygbAMp94HRKf49VtRXnOMbkkXAJ1Wc0ecHLN28_I |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

On 19 May 2018, Poroshenko signed a Decree which put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the final termination of Ukraine's participation in the statutory bodies of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Україна остаточно вийшла з СНД |url=https://espreso.tv/news/2018/05/19/ukrayina_ostatochno_vyyshla_z_snd |access-date=19 May 2018 |website=espreso.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Президент підписав Указ про остаточне припинення участі України у статутних органах СНД — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України |language=uk |work=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-pidpisav-ukaz-pro-ostatochne-pripinennya-uchasti-u-47554 |access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref> As of February 2019, Ukraine minimized its participation in the Commonwealth of Independent States to a critical minimum and effectively completed its withdrawal. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not ratify the accession, i.e. Ukraine has never been a member of the CIS.<ref>{{cite news |title=Україні не потрібно виходити із СНД – вона ніколи не була і не є зараз членом цієї структури |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/ukrayina-dosi-v-snd-chy-ni/30969197.html |newspaper=Радіо Свобода|date=26 November 2020 |last1=Лащенко |first1=Олександр }}</ref>

The [[Kerch Strait incident]] occurred on 25 November 2018 when the [[Russia]]n [[Federal Security Service]] (FSB) [[Coast Guard (Russia)|coast guard]] fired upon and captured three [[Ukrainian Navy]] vessels attempting to pass from the [[Black Sea]] into the [[Sea of Azov]] through the [[Kerch Strait]] on their way to the port of [[Mariupol]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 November 2018 |title=Tension escalates after Russia seizes Ukraine naval ships |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46338671 |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Andrew |last1=Osborn |first2= Pavel |last2=Polityuk |date=26 November 2018 |title=Russia fires on and seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea |work=Reuters News |agency=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-idUSKCN1NU0DL/ |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Порошенко_з_патріархом_Філаретом.jpg|thumb|President [[Petro Poroshenko]] and [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]], 16 April 2018]]
On 6 January 2019, in [[Fener]], a delegation of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] with the participation of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko [[Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine|received]] a [[Tomos (Eastern Orthodox Church)|Tomos]] on [[autocephaly]]. The Tomos was presented to the head of the OCU, [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Metropolitan Epiphanius]], during a joint liturgy with the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο |url=https://ec-patr.org/ |access-date=14 June 2021 |language=el}}</ref> The next day, Tomos was brought to Ukraine for a demonstration at [[Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv|St. Sophia Cathedral]]. On 9 January, all members of the [[Synod]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Constantinople Orthodox Church]] signed the Tomos during the scheduled meeting of the Synod.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

On 21 February 2019, the [[Constitution of Ukraine]] was amended, with the norms on the strategic course of Ukraine for membership in the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]] being enshrined in the preamble of the Basic Law, three articles and transitional provisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The law amending the Constitution on the course of accession to the EU and NATO has entered into force |url=https://eu-ua.org/novyny/zakon-pro-zminy-do-konstytuciyi-shchodo-kursu-na-vstup-v-yes-i-nato-nabuv-chynnosti |access-date=23 March 2021 |website=EU UA {{!}} European integration portal |language=uk |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928024828/https://eu-ua.org/novyny/zakon-pro-zminy-do-konstytuciyi-shchodo-kursu-na-vstup-v-yes-i-nato-nabuv-chynnosti |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 21 April 2019, [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] was elected president in the second round of the presidential election. Early [[2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] on 21 July allowed the newly formed pro-presidential [[Servant of the People (political party)|Servant of the People party]] to win an absolute majority of seats for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine (248). [[Dmytro Razumkov]], the party's chairman, was elected speaker of parliament. The majority was able to form a government on 29 August on its own, without forming coalitions, and approved [[Oleksiy Honcharuk|Oleksii Honcharuk]] as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kitsoft |title=Кабінет Міністрів України&nbsp;— Новим Прем'єр-міністром України став Олексій Гончарук |url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/novim-premyer-ministrom-ukrayini-stav-oleksij-goncharuk |access-date=6 July 2020 |website=www.kmu.gov.ua |language=uk}}</ref> On 4 March 2020, due to a 1.5% drop in GDP (instead of a 4.5% increase at the time of the election), the Verkhovna Rada fired [[Honcharuk Government|Honcharuk's government]] and [[Denys Shmyhal]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 March 2020 |title=Гончарука звільнили з посади прем'єра й відставили весь уряд |language=uk |work=BBC News Україна |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-51734007 |access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> became the new Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Денис Шмигаль – новий прем'єр України |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2020/03/4/7242529/ |access-date=6 July 2020 |website=Українська правда |language=uk}}</ref>

On 28 July 2020, in [[Lublin]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]] and Ukraine created the [[Lublin Triangle]] initiative, which aims to create further cooperation between the three historical countries of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and further Ukraine's integration and accession to the [[European Union|EU]] and [[NATO]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine Inaugurate 'Lublin Triangle' |url=https://jamestown.org/program/lithuania-poland-and-ukraine-inaugurate-lublin-triangle/ |website=Jamestown}}</ref>

On 2 February 2021, a presidential decree banned the television broadcasting of the pro-Russian TV channels [[112 Ukraine]], NewsOne and ZIK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №43/2021 |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/432021-36441 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Зеленський‌ ‌"вимкнув"‌ ‌112,‌ ‌ZIK‌ ‌і‌ ‌NewsOne‌ ‌з‌ ефіру. Що відомо‌ |language=uk |work=BBC News Україна |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-55907449 |access-date=6 February 2021}}</ref> The decision of the National Security and Defense Council and the Presidential Decree of 19 February 2021 imposed sanctions on 8 individuals and 19 legal entities, including Putin's pro-Russian politician and [[Vladimir Putin|Putin's]] godfather [[Viktor Medvedchuk]] and his wife Oksana Marchenko.<ref>{{Cite web |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №64/2021 |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/642021-36753 |access-date=20 February 2021 |website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Зеленський ввів у дію санкції проти Медведчука |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/02/20/7284161/ |access-date=20 February 2021 |website=Українська правда |language=uk}}</ref>

On 17 May 2021, the [[Association Trio]] was formed by signing a joint memorandum between the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia|Foreign Ministers of Georgia]], [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova|Moldova]] and [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ukraine]]. Association Trio is tripartite format for the enhanced cooperation, coordination, and dialogue between the three countries (that have signed the Association Agreement with the EU) with the [[European Union]] on issues of common interest related to [[European integration]], enhancing cooperation within the framework of the [[Eastern Partnership]], and committing to the prospect of joining the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Україна, Грузія та Молдова створили новий формат співпраці для спільного руху в ЄС |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2021/05/17/7123240/ |website=www.eurointegration.com.ua}}</ref>

At the June [[2021 Brussels summit|2021 Brussels Summit]], NATO leaders reiterated the decision taken at the [[2008 Bucharest summit|2008 Bucharest Summit]] that Ukraine would become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process and Ukraine's right to determine its own future and foreign policy without outside interference.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Brussels Summit Communiqué issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels 14 June 2021 |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185000.htm |website=NATO}}</ref>

[[File:Робоча поїздка Президента України на Миколаївщину та Одещину 50.jpg|thumb|left|President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] with members of the Ukrainian army on 18 June 2022]]
[[Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Throughout 2021]], Russian forces built up along the [[Russia–Ukraine border|Russia-Ukraine Border]], in occupied Crimea, Donbas, and Belarus.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's border that has some talking of war |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060608432/buildup-of-russian-forces-along-ukraines-border-that-has-some-talking-of-war |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> On 24 February 2022, Russian forces [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invaded]] Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellyatt |first=Holly |title=Russian forces invade Ukraine |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/24/russian-forces-invade-ukraine.html |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=CNBC |date=24 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Russia quickly occupied much of the [[Eastern Ukraine offensive|east]] and [[Southern Ukraine offensive|south]] of the country, but failed to advance past the city of [[Mykolaiv]] towards [[Odesa]], and were forced to retreat from the [[Northern Ukraine offensive|north]] after failing to occupy [[Kyiv offensive (2022)|Kyiv]], [[Chernihiv]], [[Sumy]], and [[Kharkiv]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bigg |first=Matthew Mpoke |date=13 September 2022 |title=Russia invaded Ukraine more than 200 days ago. Here is one key development from every month of the war. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-timeline.html |access-date=4 October 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After failing to gain further territories and being driven out of [[Kharkiv Oblast]] by a fast-paced [[2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive|Ukrainian counteroffensive]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=John Bacon and Jorge L. |title=Russians admit defeat in Kharkiv; Zelenskyy visits Izium after troops flee shattered city: Ukraine updates |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/09/14/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates/10375099002/ |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> Russia declared the [[Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts|annexation]] of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, along with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 30 September.

The invasion was met with [[Reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|international condemnation]]. The [[United Nations General Assembly]] passed [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1|a resolution]] condemning the invasion and demanding a full Russian withdrawal in March 2022. The [[International Court of Justice]] ordered Russia to suspend military operations and the [[Council of Europe]] expelled Russia. Many countries [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|imposed sanctions]] on Russia and its ally Belarus, and provided [[List of humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|humanitarian]] and [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|military aid to Ukraine]]. The [[Baltic states]] all declared Russia a [[State terrorism|terrorist state]]. [[Protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Protests occurred]] around the world, along with mass arrests of [[Anti-war protests in Russia (2022–present)|anti-war protesters in Russia]], which also enacted a law enabling greater [[Censorship in Russia|media censorship]]. Over 1,000 [[Corporate responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|companies closed their operations]] in Russia and Belarus as a result of the invasion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maynes |first=Charles |date=30 September 2022 |title=Putin illegally annexes territories in Ukraine, in spite of global opposition |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/09/30/1126020895/russia-ukraine-putin-annexation |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>

On the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country was [[List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (PPP) per capita|the poorest in Europe]],<ref>{{cite web |title=GDP per capita (Current US$) &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true}}</ref> a handicap whose cause was attributed to high [[Corruption in Ukraine|corruption]] levels<ref>{{cite web |last=Bullough |first=Oliver |date=6 February 2015 |title=Welcome to Ukraine, the most corrupt nation in Europe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/04/welcome-to-the-most-corrupt-nation-in-europe-ukraine |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |quote="Since 1991, officials, members of parliament and businessmen have created complex and highly lucrative schemes to plunder the state budget. The theft has crippled Ukraine. The economy was as large as Poland's at independence, now it is a third of the size. Ordinary Ukrainians have seen their living standards stagnate, while a handful of oligarchs have become billionaires."}}</ref> and the slow pace of [[economic liberalization]] and [[Reform|institutional reform]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine: Can meaningful reform come out of conflict? |url=https://www.bruegel.org/policy-brief/ukraine-can-meaningful-reform-come-out-conflict |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Bruegel {{!}} The Brussels-based economic think tank |date=25 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pikulicka-Wilczewska |first=Agnieszka |date=19 July 2017 |title=Why the reforms in Ukraine are so slow? |url=https://neweasterneurope.eu/2017/07/19/why-the-reforms-in-ukraine-are-so-slow/ |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=New Eastern Europe - A bimonthly news magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The slow-reform trap |url=https://www.bruegel.org/blog-post/slow-reform-trap |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Bruegel {{!}} The Brussels-based economic think tank |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2000 |title=Ukraine Country Assistance Evaluation |url=https://www.oecd.org/countries/ukraine/35290615.pdf |website=OECD}}</ref> Russia's invasion of the country damaged Ukraine's economy and future prospects of improvement to such an extent, that the GDP of the country was projected to shrink by as much as 35% in its first year alone after the invasion.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1= Mackinnon|first1=Amy |last2=Gramer |first2=Robbie |title=The Battle to Save Ukraine's Economy From the War |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/05/russia-ukraine-war-reconstruction-european-bank-odile-renaud-basso/ |magazine=Foreign Policy |date=5 October 2022|access-date=2 October 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ukraine was originally preparing to formally apply for [[Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|EU membership]] in 2024, but instead signed an application for membership in February 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=У 2024 році Україна подасть заявку на вступ до ЄС |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2629440-u-2024-roci-ukraina-podast-zaavku-na-vstup-do-es.html |website=www.ukrinform.ua|date=29 January 2019 }}</ref>