Russia has been amassing troops near its border with Ukraine since the beginning of the year. Estimates and reports suggest that close to 100,000 Russian soldiers and heavy weaponry are stationed along the border. According to intelligence reports, Russia may invade Ukraine early in the new year. Kyiv is feeling threatened and is looking to the West for support and security.
Tensions along the Ukraine-Russia border have been simmering for close to a decade, if not longer. In fact, since the Euromaidan movement in 2013, which saw massive protests against then-President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union instead of the EU, peace in the region has been tenuous at best.
There is a lot of history between the two nations. Ukraine was the second-largest republic of the erstwhile USSR. It is said that the old guard in Moscow has not yet come to terms with Kyiv's sovereignty. It is a well-known fact that the Kremlin, and Putin in particular, are fixated on keeping the country within the Russian sphere of influence.
The latest development on that front came to light recently. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made public that security forces uncovered a coup plotted against his government. He accused Russia of being complicit in the scheme. Moscow denied the allegation.
