Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. After a conflict arose in 2014 involving Russia annexing the Crimea region as well as Russian-backed seperatist taking over parts of eastern Ukraine. 

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s horrifying attack on Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked,” NATO said. “Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured, and with the people of Ukraine.”

President Vladimir Putin had given a list of demands that included: a guarantee for Ukraine never being able to join NATO, NATO withdrawal of all arms from Eastern Europe, a ban on NATO missiles within striking distance, and autonomy for eastern Ukraine. 

“The things he is demanding are absurd, we all know the West would never adhere to his demands,” senior Jesus Serrano said. “It is almost as if he is giving a pretext to invade Ukraine by saying that his demands were never followed by anyone.”

After the fall of the Soviet Union, aside from the satellite states no longer aligning with them, regions within the Soviet Union also chose to break away from them. Putin addressed this in his State of the Union Address as “the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century.”

“As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy, 10s of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory, ” Putin said.

Prior to the invasion, Russia decided to place troops around parts of Ukraine to protect the sovereignty of the regions in Ukraine that Putin announced to be independent nations.

“He calls them peacekeepers,” U.S. Ambassador to the UN Thomas-Greenfield said. “This is nonsense. We know what they really are.”

Putin’s justification for the invasion is to defend the people who he claims have been suffering persecution and genocide by the Kyive regime.

“For this we will aim for demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as taking to court those who carried out multiple bloody crimes against civilians including citizens of the Russian Federation,” Putin said. 

NATO and other countries have introduced sanctions and other means to stop the Russian forces by targeting their economy. The sanctions have brought down the worth of the Russian Ruble, while effective, some members of Ukraine’s parliament have stated they are not effective enough to halt the Russian army.

“We are very thankful for all the help and support that we are getting, however you see that sanctions do not stop Putin,” member of Ukraine’s parliament Kira Rudik said. “Right now we are acting as a shield to the whole democratic world and we need not only sanctions, we need physical support, we need money, and we need military support.”

In an effort to defend Ukraine, civilians have organized themselves for the production of molotov cocktails. Molotov cocktails are breakable bottles filled with a flammable substance which works as a makeshift incendiary weapon. 

“I am proud of the people of Ukraine,” sophomore Gael Hernandez said.” Instead of greeting the Russians with flowers, they are greeting them with molotov cocktails.”

Ukraine has been asking for other countries to put a no-fly zone in place. “We know you cannot fight for us, but you can give us coverage from the air,” Rudik said. A no-fly zone would keep any aircraft from flying overhead in an area that has been restricted. 

“Giving Ukraine a no-fly zone is a terrible idea,” senior Travis Butts said. “Direct confrontation with Russian aircraft could further escalate things if one minor mistake were to happen. The results of escalation could be catastrophic.”

There have been peace talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Belarus. These peace talks have not yet given any indication that either side is willing to compromise. 

“I wish for these negotiations to go smoothly, so that they may reach an agreement to end this reckless violence,” senior Adam Aguilar said. “ At this point in time, a resolution to this conflict might include Ukraine giving up for good their eastern region.”