You can’t understand the blood and rubble in Ukraine without first understanding the motives of the man in Moscow and the games played by power brokers on both sides of the Atlantic. Strip away the propaganda—both Russian and Western—and you’ll see a story as old as empires: territory, control, and the erasure of sovereignty.
Why Russia Invaded
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was driven by a desire for power and Putin’s goal of integrating Ukraine into Moscow’s sphere, not by general security concerns. Crimea marked the start in 2014, followed by conflict in Donbas, culminating in the 2022 escalation.
Did Ukrainians Want to Join Russia?
The Kremlin sells the fantasy that Ukrainians were begging for liberation. The truth is more complicated—and far less convenient for Putin. In Crimea, under Russian guns in 2014, a staged referendum claimed 97% support for annexation. In eastern oblasts like Donetsk and Luhansk, pro-Russian sentiment existed but never commanded a majority. Most Ukrainians wanted independence, not a return to Soviet servitude.
The History of the Contested Land
Ukraine’s contested territories have been pawns in power struggles for centuries. In 1654, a Cossack alliance with Russia opened the door to centuries of Russification. The Soviet era cemented Moscow’s control until the USSR collapsed in 1991, when Ukraine emerged as an independent state. But Russia never let go of the dream—or the claim. Crimea’s annexation in 2014 was just a dress rehearsal for the nightmare that unfolded eight years later.
The Human Cost of War
Numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they paint a grim picture. The UN confirms over 13,000 civilian deaths since February 2022. Ukraine admits to losing more than 43,000 soldiers. Independent counts put Russian military deaths somewhere north of 27,000—though some estimates run far higher. Conservative totals put combined deaths at over 200,000. Behind every number is a name, a family, a future stolen.
Wars aren’t fought in a vacuum. They’re the product of ambition, fear, and the relentless pursuit of control. Ukraine is paying in blood for its independence. Russia is burning men and machines to fuel an imperial dream. And the so‑called international community? Mostly wringing its hands while the body count rises.
Enter President Donald J. Trump
I’m concerned President Trump may prioritize “making a deal” over doing what’s right when he meets Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025. I hope he stands up to Russia, demands withdrawal from Ukraine, and does not pressure Ukrainian President Zelensky to concede land. Trump wants credit for ending the Russia-Ukraine war so he’s anxious to get a “deal done”. However, if a deal means Ukraine gives up territory, especially under more pressure than Putin faces to leave Ukraine with little to nothing gained by his invasion, it’s not a good deal at all.
Rewarding invaders with “conquered land” is not a good look in the 21st century.
