Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner of the presidential election and declared Ukraine should be a 'neutral state,' cooperating with both Russia and Western alliances like NATO.

Protests in Kyiv led to Yanukovych's ouster, and pro-Russian forces seized control of Crimea, which was then annexed by Russia.

Russia provoked an armed separatist movement in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, leading to ongoing conflict and significant humanitarian issues.

Volodymyr Zelensky, a former television comedian, won the presidential election on a promise to restore Donbas to Ukraine and combat corruption.