When the first missiles struck the territory of Ukraine at dawn on February 24, 2022, Europe woke up in a nightmare it had thought forgotten. No one could have imagined that, in the 21st century, the continent that had been rocked by two world wars would once again experience the terror of tanks, sirens and unannounced death. Since then, people have been dying day after day, in isolated villages, in towns turned to ruins, in trenches covered in mud and smoke. It’s not a movie, it’s not a story forgotten from textbooks – it’s the reality of a war on the border with Moldova, IPN reports.
In February 2022, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after a period of tensions and troop build-ups on the border. Initially the Russian offensive targeted Kiev and other major cities, but Ukrainian resistance, backed by massive arms supplies from the West, led to the withdrawal of Russian forces and the recapture of territory. Over the years, fighting has concentrated in the Donbas and southern Ukraine, with frequent changes of control over strategic areas.
Casualty estimates vary widely. The death toll reported so far is in the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, as well as many civilians. But the figures are difficult to verify. At the same time, millions of civilians have been displaced and Ukraine’s infrastructure has been severely damaged.
The war in Ukraine was a turning point in European and global geopolitics. In May 2025, the conflict continues with high intensity, with no resolution in the foreseeable future.
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The war in Ukraine has had a profound impact on the world economy, triggering a series of knock-on effects that are being felt globally. The sanctions imposed on Russia have drastically reduced gas and oil supplies, causing massive price increases and global inflation. The blockade of grain exports from Ukraine has affected food security, especially in Africa and the Middle East.
To control inflation, central banks raised interest rates, slowing economic growth. Supply chains were disrupted and many companies closed their Russian operations.
At the same time, geo-economic competition has increased, with the BRICS stepping up domestic trade and the West accelerating investment in energy, defense and technology.
Throughout the conflict, there have been multiple attempts to negotiate. In March 2025, a summit brought together international leaders in London to support Ukraine in the negotiation process. However, Russia refused a 30-day ceasefire, conditioning it on a halt to Ukrainian mobilization and Western arms supplies.
The principle of “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” remains fundamental to Kiev’s position, which insists that any talks directly include Ukrainian representatives.
International support for Ukraine has been crucial. The European Union has approved a €150 billion loan program to bolster European defenses as US military aid has been cut under the Trump administration.
Also, the Weimar+ group (France, Germany, Poland, UK, Italy, Spain and the European Commission) was created in February 2025 to strengthen the European position in relation to US policy changes. The UK took a tough stance on Russia and Israel, applying new sanctions and suspending trade negotiations with Israel.
In 2025, the war in the neighboring country is not just a regional conflict but a target in the global competition for influence between Russia and the West. Ukraine is in a difficult situation: while receiving considerable military and economic support, it faces internal and external pressure to reach a negotiated settlement. Consequently, any developments in the war will have major implications for European security and international relations.
The material is part of the IPN campaign “History – making Events”.