For many millennials, this isn’t the first time they have witnessed a violent conflict. For many younger generations, however, this is the first major event they have witnessed. It is a gruesome but eye-opening event for many.

For many years, Russia has been in a semi-dictatorship and controlled entirely by Vladimir Putin. He has obtained his power by changing Russia’s government rules so that he can rule as long as he wants, or until his death. Long before the war between the two countries erupted, Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, along with Russia. However, when the Soviet Union was torn to shreds in December of 1991, Ukraine separated from Russia and continued as a peaceful and independent country. 

For the past few months, Putin has been planning an attack on Ukraine. This is because Ukraine wishes to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a group of countries that wish to provide collective protection against the Soviet Union. NATO also controls when to step in when wars break out and when a supporting country wishes to join a war. The countries that support NATO also have to fight, creating World Wars. This explains why no one is stepping up to help Ukraine. They don’t wish to create more problems and a possible WWIII. Russia doesn’t want Ukraine to join NATO, out of fear that they would never get the Soviet Union back, which is Putin’s goal. 

The media has covered the Russia and Ukraine conflict extensively. Communities around the world have been in contact with Ukraine and have sent them weapons as well. No one wants a WWIII, but if Russia attempts to dictate the world and re-establish the Soviet Union, other countries may have to get involved. The Ukraine and Russia war has absorbed the media and drastically changed the lives of many innocent Ukrainian civilians. We cannot predict the future, but knowing Putin’s experience and aggression, the future looks bleak.