Did the Ukraine used to be Russia?

After World War II, the western part of Ukraine merged into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the whole country became a part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Why is Donetsk important?

Donetsk is adjacent to another major city, Makiivka, and along with other surrounding cities forms a major urban sprawl and conurbation in the region. Donetsk has been a major economic, industrial and scientific centre of Ukraine with a high concentration of heavy industries and a skilled workforce.

Does Ukraine and Russia speak the same language?

Both Russian and Ukrainian are Slavic languages from the Indo-European family. Russian is an official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan, while Ukrainian is the sole official national language of Ukraine.

Are Ukraine and US allies?

The United States enjoys cordially friendly and strategic relations with Ukraine and attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine’s transition to a democracy with a flourishing market economy. Total U.S. assistance since independence has been more than $3 billion.

When did Ukraine became part of Russia?

In 1922, Ukraine became one of the original constituent republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.); it would not regain its independence until the U.S.S.R.’s collapse in 1991.

Is it safe to travel to Donetsk?

Eastern Ukraine The FCDO advise against all travel to Donetsk oblast and Luhansk oblast. The security situation in the south-eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine is highly unstable, with ongoing clashes between Ukrainian armed forces and Russian-backed armed separatists.

Who are the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine?

Essentially, the media terms “pro-Russian separatists”, “Russian-backed rebels” and “eastern Ukraine militants” are interchangeable and refer to the Russian sympathisers in eastern Ukraine who have control over the region where the plane was shot down.

What is happening to Russia’s separatists?

As Russia has distanced itself from either annexing the de facto republics, as it did with Crimea, or recognising their independence, many separatists have fallen out with the Kremlin. For its part, the wider population feels neglected by both Kyiv and Moscow.

How is Ukraine responding to Russia’s incursion into the Donbas?

Ukraine and its Western supporters typically have responded to Russia’s incursion into eastern Ukraine, or Donbas, through policies and rhetoric that treat the conflict as one entirely between Kyiv and Moscow.

Why does Russia’s retreat from annexing eastern Ukraine matter?

Russia’s gradual retreat from any plans to annex parts of eastern Ukraine has opened schisms between Moscow and its separatist proxies in the region. Why does it matter? For Kyiv, these divides could create opportunities to restart dialogue with the people of the east. Such contacts, in turn, could help lay the groundwork for Ukraine’s unification.