Ukraine conflict: An overview
Russia's invasion of Ukraine marked its two-year anniversary on 24 February 2024.
On this page
- Key points in the conflict skip to link
- Military assistance skip to link
- Humanitarian situation, aid and reconstruction skip to link
- Sanctions skip to link
- European security and NATO skip to link
- International legal issues skip to link
- European Union skip to link
- Energy security skip to link
- Around the world skip to link
- Implications for the UK skip to link
- Historical papers skip to link
Key points in the conflict
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Ukraine: The Swiss Peace Summit and what comes next?
A Summit on Peace in Ukraine was held in Switzerland on 15 and 16 June 2024.
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Ukraine: China's pathway to peace?
Attention is increasingly being given to the conditions that may be required to bring about peace in Ukraine.
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Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (2014 - eve of 2022 invasion)
This paper provides a timeline of the major events in the Ukraine-Russia conflict between Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the eve of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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Conflict in Ukraine: A Parliamentary reading list (2014 - present)
Commons Library papers, Committee reports, parliamentary material and UK Government press releases since Crimea was seized by pro-Russian forces in 2014.
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Ukraine: Fears Russia could use chemical weapons
Western military chiefs have expressed concern that Russia could resort to the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
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No-fly zones and Ukraine
The UK and NATO have ruled out establishing a no-fly zone in Ukraine. What is their legal basis and when have they been used before?
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Ukraine: Russia's "red line"
Russian military forces are building on the borders of Ukraine once again. What are Russia's intentions and how is the West responding?
Military assistance
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Detailed timeline of UK military assistance to Ukraine (February 2022-present)
What military assistance is the UK providing to Ukraine?
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Military assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion
What weapons and other military support have been given to Ukraine by the UK, the US and its allies and partners since Russia invaded the country in February 2022?
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Will the UK send combat aircraft to Ukraine?
President Zelenskyy has asked the UK for fighter planes in Ukraine. What combat aircraft does the UK have? And what issues exist for training pilots?
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Military Assistance to Ukraine 2014-2021
What military assistance did the UK, the US, NATO and the EU give to Ukraine between 2014 and 2021?
Humanitarian situation, aid and reconstruction
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Post-conflict reconstruction assistance to Ukraine
Planning for the post conflict reconstruction of Ukraine has begun. The use of sanctioned Russian assets to help fund reconstruction is among the issues being discussed.
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Ukraine: UK aid and humanitarian situation 2022 to 2024
Describes the effects of the conflict in Ukraine and the number of refugees leaving the country, alongside what aid the UK and others have pledged from 2022.
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Refugee mental health and the response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine
How does conflict affect the mental health of refugees, and how has the UK Government responded to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine?
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Organising humanitarian aid and help for Ukraine
Russia's actions in Ukraine threaten a humanitarian crisis. The Government advises those in the UK seeking to help to make cash donations to registered charities.
Sanctions
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Sanctions against Russia
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Western allies and other partners across the globe have imposed an unprecedented package of coordinated sanctions against Russia.
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Sanctions, International Law, and Seizing Russian Assets
As states sanction Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, this briefing sets out the arguments around seizing another state's assets, and explains the intensifying debate on how international law affects sanctions.
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Sanctions against countries supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Countries that are considered to be supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine have increasingly faced US, EU and UK sanctions.
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The UK's Overseas Territories and sanctions against Russia
The UK has imposed sanctions against Russia. This paper describes how these sanctions apply in the UK's Overseas Territories.
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UK sanctions against Russia: Arms exports
The UK has banned the export of all dual-use items to Russia in response to conflict in Ukraine.
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Russian sanctions prior to the invasion of Ukraine
Current sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine have reached an unprecedent scale. However, there has been a sanctions regime in place against Russia since 2014.
European security and NATO
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Security guarantees to Ukraine
The UK was the first country to sign a long term bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in January 2024. What security guarantees have NATO and G7 countries made?
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NATO's Washington summit
The NATO summit in July 2024, the first for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focused on Ukraine's path to membership and challenges posed by Russia and China.
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Russia's use of nuclear threats during the Ukraine conflict
In March 2023 Russia announced that it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. The move is another step in Russia's increasing nuclear rhetoric associated with the conflict in Ukraine.
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NATO enlargement: Ukraine
NATO says Ukraine "will become a member" of the Alliance, but has not set a timeframe.
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UK forces in Estonia
The UK doubled the number of troops in Estonia in early 2022. Will this continue in 2023?
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NATO enlargement: Sweden and Finland
This briefing explains Finland and Sweden's decision to join NATO and the process involved in them joining the alliance.
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NATO: Reinforcing its eastern flank
NATO has been increasing its military presence along its eastern borders in response to Russian action.
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NATO's response to Russian military action in Ukraine
NATO has condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine. It held a leaders’ virtual summit on 25 February.
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European security: the outcome of talks with Russia
In mid-January 2022 the US, NATO, OSCE and Russia held a series of talks on European security in an effort to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
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What is NATO?
This paper explains what NATO is, its structure and purpose, and how it has evolved since its formation in 1949.
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Nuclear weapons at a glance: Russia
This paper briefly examines Russia's nuclear weapons policies, capabilities and programmes. It is one paper in a larger series on the nuclear weapon states.
International legal issues
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Conflict in Ukraine: A Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression
Two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, states continue to discuss setting up a tribunal dedicated to prosecuting aggression against Ukraine. This briefing outlines how a Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression may be set up, and progress to date.
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The UN General Assembly condemns Russia: But what can it actually do?
What powers does the UN have to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
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Implications of the Russian-backed referendums in Ukraine
At the end of September 2022 Moscow announced the annexation of four occupied regions of Ukraine following a series of referendums on joining on Russia, which were widely labelled a "sham" and a violation of international law.
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Ukraine crisis: Recognition, military action, and international law
As Russia begins widespread military action against Ukraine, this briefing outlines some of the international legal issues involved.
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Ukrainian Holodomor and the war in Ukraine
A debate on the Ukrainian Holodomor and the war in Ukraine is scheduled for Tuesday 7 March 2023 in Westminster Hall, from 4:30-5:30pm. The debate will be led by Pauline Latham MP.
European Union
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EU enlargement: Ukraine, the Western Balkans and the accession process
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have become candidates for EU membership, and the EU has stepped up the accession process for Western Balkan countries. This briefing outlines the accession process and state of play
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The EU response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
How has the EU responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? This paper provides an overview of the unprecedented set of actions the EU has taken.
Energy security
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Imports of fossil fuels from Russia
The UK imported no coal, oil or gas from Russia in January 2023. The total value of UK fossil fuel imports from Russia has fallen since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It was £1.34 billion in the year to January 20222
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Alternatives to Russian oil: Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and Venezuela?
The US, UK and EU aim to reduce imports of Russian oil and gas. This describes other countries able to increase supply and the challenges in achieving this.
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Geopolitical implications of Nord Stream 2
The already controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project has taken on greater significance amidst the current crisis in Ukraine. What is the future of the pipeline?
Around the world
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Instability in Russia: Prigozhin's armed rebellion
Events over 23-24 June 2023, saw the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, exiled to Belarus after attempting an armed rebellion in Russia.
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Work of the Council of Europe and the expulsion of Russia
This briefing paper provides an overview of the work of the Council of Europe and also covers the recent expulsion of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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Ukraine crisis and Africa
How have countries in Africa responded to the Ukraine crisis? And how is the conflict affecting the continent?
Implications for the UK
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Special visa schemes for Ukrainians
Since early 2022, Ukrainians have been able to take up temporary residence in the UK under Homes for Ukraine and other bespoke visa programmes.
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Countering Russian influence in the UK
Widespread sanctions have been imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine. But there have also been calls for the Government to go further and bring forward long-awaited proposals on countering foreign influence in the UK.
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Rising cost of living in the UK
This briefing covers rising prices including food and energy inflation, Government support, and how the cost of living affects households.
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Hosting Ukrainian refugees: Council tax implications
How hosting a Ukrainian refugee through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme may affect council tax payments, including single person discounts and second homes.
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Support for students from Ukraine in UK higher education
Find out what support is available for higher education students who have arrived in the UK from Ukraine.
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Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022
An explanation of the Act's three main measures on: (1) a beneficial ownership register of Overseas Entities owning UK property; (2) Unexplained Wealth Orders; and (3) Sanctions.
Historical papers
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International help for the government of Ukraine
Violence has been increasing in eastern Ukraine, leading to calls for the West to arm the Ukrainian government. But Ukraine is also close to financial meltdown.
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Sanctions over the Ukraine conflict
The EU announced broad economic sanctions against Russia on 29 July 2014 including restrictions on some Russian banks’ ability to borrow money in EU financial markets, and an arms embargo.
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Ukraine: towards a frozen conflict?
The conflict in Ukraine is in danger of becoming a "frozen conflict" with no clear peace agreement in sight.
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2014 Ukraine crisis
Fears of a Russian military intervention in Ukraine are rising as the country faces a political crisis.
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Ukraine, Crimea and Russia
In 2014 Russian-backed forces took over the Crimean autonomous assembly, which subsequently declared independence from Ukraine.