Save Ukraine for Better World

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

President Putin warned in a pre-dawn TV broadcast on February 24 that Russia could not feel "secure, develop, or exist" because of what he believed was a persistent danger from modern Ukraine.

Airports and military headquarters were assaulted immediately, followed by tanks and troops from Russia, Russian-annexed Crimea, and its ally Belarus. Warplanes have now bombed significant cities.

Russia refuses to use the words "war" or "invasion" since many of its leaders' explanations for it were untrue or unreasonable.

He stated that his purpose was to defend those subjected to bullying and genocide and to "demilitarize and de-Nazify" Ukraine. There has been no genocide in Ukraine, a thriving democracy governed by a Jewish president.

"How could I possibly be a Nazi?" Volodymyr Zelensky compared Russia's invasion to Nazi Germany's invasion in World War II. Ukraine's head rabbi and the Auschwitz Memorial also denounced Russia's slander. Since its pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in 2014 following months of protests, President Putin has regularly accused Ukraine of being taken over by radicals.

Russia subsequently reacted by taking Crimea's southern area and sparking an eastward revolt, supporting separatists who have fought Ukrainian soldiers in a war that has cost 14,000 lives.

Late in 2021, Russia began mobilizing large numbers of troops on Ukraine's borders, frequently claiming that it intended to strike. Then, in 2015, Mr Putin abandoned a peace settlement for the east and recognized rebel-held territories as autonomous.

Russia has long opposed Ukraine's progress toward the European Union and NATO, the West's defensive military alliance. He accused NATO of endangering "our historic future as a country" and announced Russia's incursion.

What is the relationship between Ukraine and Russia?

Russia and Ukraine are former members of the Soviet Union. In 1991, when the USSR collapsed, Ukraine became independent but remained within the Commonwealth of the Independent States, an organization dominated by Russia. However, Ukraine has always been very close to Western Europe, especially Germany, and has never accepted Moscow's domination of its affairs.

This difference of opinion led to tensions between the two countries. In particular, Ukraine refused to join the Customs Union, a trade bloc formed by Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Instead, it signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, which allowed it to move closer towards integration into the EU.

This difference of opinion led to tensions between the two countries. In particular, Ukraine refused to join the Customs Union, a trade bloc formed by Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Instead, it signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, which allowed it to move closer towards integration into the EU.

This angered the Russians, who saw Ukraine as a strategic buffer state between themselves and the West. They feared that NATO would expand eastwards towards their borders if Ukraine joined the EU.

They became independent states at different times but remained closely linked economically and politically. In particular, Ukraine depends on Russia for most of its natural gas supplies.

Although the two nations' ties are typically positive, they can sometimes become tense. For example, in 2013, when Russia decided to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine following a dispute, thousands of Ukrainians protested in the streets. At the same time, however, millions of Russians supported their government's decision.

Is Ukraine part of NATO?

Ukraine, which has Russian soldiers on its borders, is pushing for admission. However, President Biden and European leaders are not prepared to take that step.

The United States and Russia have divulged one item each to the European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. While the Biden administration insists that it will not allow Moscow to derail Ukraine's NATO ambitions, it has no immediate plans to assist in bringing the former Soviet republic into the alliance.

If Ukraine became a member of NATO, the organization would be required to protect it against Russia and other rivals. Officials in the United States will not appease Russian President Vladimir V. Putin by compromising a principle inherent in NATO's founding 1949 treaty that provides any European nation with the freedom to request membership.

Was Ukraine ever part of Russia?

It was a populous and industrialized republic until it gained independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, Ukraine was allied with the United States and Western countries. In particular, Ukraine provided vital military bases for western allies during the Cold War.

After the fall of communism in 1989, Ukraine became an independent state. It joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which included former Soviet states such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

When the CIS dissolved in December 1992, Ukraine chose not to join the newly formed Commonwealth of Independent States. Instead, it signed an Association Agreement with the European Community, becoming the first ex-Soviet republic to do so.

Current war situation in Ukraine?

Norway strongly condemns the decision of the Russian president to recognize the self-declared People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. He has violated international law and fundamental OSSE principles. His decision is also contrary to the Minsk agreements, under which Russia recognizes the non-government controlled areas in eastern Ukraine as parts of Ukraine. Norway urges him to comply with his obliged abide by international law and return to the path towards negotiations. Norway condemns Russia's decision to send troops into eastern Ukraine. It is an unjustified and irresponsible move, as it further increases the tension.

Norway urges Russia to withdraw its troops from within Ukraine and from its border. Norway calls on Russia not to act irresponsibly. It should work strictly according to international humanitarian law. Norway also supports the efforts of the OSSE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSSM). In the current situation, obtaining objective and impartial information about developments is vital. All parties must ensure the OSSM's free, safe, and secure access throughout Ukraine, including Crimea. Norway doesn't want Russia to invade Ukraine.

Medical device distributors in Ukraine

During the Ukraine crisis, health must remain a core pillar of the humanitarian response, with health systems and facilities maintained, functioning, safe, and accessible to those who require essential medical services and health professionals safeguarded so that they may continue to save lives. 

This must include the safe and dependable provision of critical medical supplies, such as life-saving medicinal oxygen supplies, which are essential for patients with a variety of conditions, including those with COVID-19 ( which currently numbers 1,700 in hospital) and those with other critical illnesses (from neonates to the elderly) caused by complications of pregnancy, childbirth, chronic conditions, sepsis, and injuries and trauma.