Did NATO cause the Ukraine Crisis?

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th Feb 2022. Russia has been declared a villain. But is there another side to this war? Is it only Russia’s fault? Indian journalist Palki Sharma argues there are other entities like NATO who are also responsible for this event.

The conflict is the largest attack by one state on another in Europe since the Second World War. The war has disrupted the lives of people in both countries and has had negative global impacts. Was it possible to avoid this war and why did Russia choose war?

About NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance among European and North American countries. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed on 4 April 1949.

This treaty was an Anti-Soviet accord, aimed to counter any aggression by the U.S.S.R and the Warsaw Pact countries ( a collective defense treaty between the Soviet Union and seven Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe during the Cold War).

History of Russia and Ukraine: They share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic, and familial links. The Ukraine crisis is justified by the Russian President on the grounds of security interests and the rights of ethnic Russians in former Soviet Republics.

History of NATO and Russia: After the U.S.S.R breakup Ukraine was a vital buffer between Russia and the West. Sharma says NATO has violated promises made prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union that Ukraine would not join NATO - as it would threaten Russia’s security.

NATO’s expansion: Over the past 25 years, NATO has gotten closer to the Russian border. Former Soviet/Warsaw Pact states like Hungary, Romania & East Germany became NATO members, surrounding Moscow and threatening Russia’s security.

At present NATO includes 28 European countries plus the U.S. and Canada. As of 2021, NATO officially recognized 3 more aspiring members: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine. NATO is also in talks with Sweden, Finland, and Serbia for membership.

Ignorance of the West: The U.S. and its western allies refused to bar Ukraine from trying to join NATO and ignored Russia’s concerns. The ambition of the West and NATO to counter Russia’s power in the world is one of the major causes of the conflict.

Russia’s trust faded as the assurances made by the western partners after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact turned false. Ignorance of Russia’s protests and warnings around the expansion of NATO is the real cause of the Ukrainian crisis. It was a tragic mistake.