How did U.S. efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO start? A timeline of key events and official dtatements leading up to 2022
Introduction The tensions between NATO, Ukraine, and Russia have deep historical roots, stretching back to the collapse of the Soviet Union. While Russia has often been portrayed as the sole instigator of the crisis, it is essential to understand the broader geopolitical strategies and motivations that led to the U.S. and NATO pushing for closer ties with Ukraine, especially around 2007. This post walks through the key events, alongside important official statements from the U.S. and Russia, to provide a clearer picture of how NATO’s interest in Ukraine evolved and the subsequent Russian reactions. 1991 – The Collapse of the Soviet Union and NATO’s Open-Door Policy The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the emergence of 15 new independent countries, including Ukraine. In the post-Cold War era, NATO began expanding eastward, incorporating former Eastern Bloc countries. The alliance adopted an **“open-door” policy**, which essentially allowed any European democracy t...