The tension rose again on Monday when Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine during a speech.
Since November, marked by the movements of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, events have multiplied, raising the threat of an invasion considered imminent by Westerners every day.
A look back at four months of tension around Ukraine.
Read alsoTension rises in eastern Ukraine
Fear of an offensive
On November 10, 2021, Washington demanded an explanation from Russia about “unusual”
troop movements
on the Ukrainian border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Westerners of delivering weapons to Kiev and conducting
"provocative"
military exercises in the region.
On the 28th, Ukraine assures us that Russia has deployed nearly 92,000 soldiers on its borders.
Moscow accuses Ukraine of massing troops in the east, where a war pits Kiev against Moscow-backed separatists.
Biden-Putin Summit
On December 7, during a virtual summit with Putin, US President Joe Biden threatens him with
“strong
economic sanctions” in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow unveils two draft treaties to notably ban any membership of Ukraine in NATO and obtain the withdrawal of NATO forces from the countries of the former Soviet space.
Forces on alert
On the 18th, after fruitless negotiations in Geneva and then in Brussels, Moscow deployed soldiers to Belarus.
Washington releases new aid for Ukraine and authorizes the Baltic countries to deliver American weapons to Kiev.
On the 24th, NATO announced the dispatch of ships and combat planes to reinforce its defenses in Eastern Europe.
Washington places 8,500 soldiers on alert.
Moscow launches new maneuvers near Ukraine and in Crimea.
The “no” in Moscow
On the 26th, Washington rejects Moscow's key demands.
Russian and Ukrainian emissaries meet French and German mediators in Paris to try to relaunch the peace process in eastern Ukraine.
Read alsoUkraine, NATO, missiles: what are the Russian demands?
Beijing alongside Moscow
On the 27th, Beijing judges
Moscow's concerns for its security to be
“reasonable” .
On February 2, Washington sends 3,000 additional soldiers to Eastern Europe.
Putin ready for “compromises”
On the 7th, Putin said he was ready to
"compromise"
after an interview with French President Emmanuel Macron.
On the 10th, the Russian and Belarusian armies began large-scale maneuvers in Belarus.
“Real” risk of war
On the 11th, NATO insists on the
"real risk of a new armed conflict"
in Europe.
Several countries call on their nationals to leave Ukraine.
Washington decides to send 3,000 additional soldiers to Poland.
On the 13th, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns that Western sanctions would be
"immediate"
in the event of a Russian invasion.
On the 14th, the United States decided to move its embassy from Kiev to Lviv (West).
Withdrawal or reinforcement?
On the 15th, the Kremlin announced the
"partial withdrawal"
of its forces to the Ukrainian borders.
On the 16th, NATO said it saw no sign of de-escalation, affirming, like Washington, that Russia, on the contrary, continued to strengthen its presence.
Increased clashes in Eastern Ukraine
On the 17th, exchanges of heavy weapon fire intensified along the front line between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.
Biden considers a possible Russian offensive
“in the coming days”,
while Moscow has deployed more than 150,000 soldiers on the borders of Ukraine, according to American intelligence.
On the contrary, Russia announces new military withdrawals.
On the 18th, the separatists ordered the evacuation of civilians to Russia.
Antony Blinken denounces Moscow's implementation of
"provocations"
to justify an attack.
Imminent strike?
On the 19th, the Ukrainian army announced the death of two of its soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposes a meeting with Putin who, at the same time, supervises
"strategic" exercises with
"hypersonic"
missile fire .
Read alsoUkraine: how Russia could deploy a nuclear arsenal in Belarus
Russian troops
"getting ready to strike"
according to Washington.
France and Germany urge their nationals to leave Ukraine.
On the 20th, Belarus announced the continuation of joint military exercises with Russia on its territory.
Putin will recognize the independence of pro-Russian separatists
On the 21st, the Élysée indicates that the Russian and American presidents have accepted its principle of a Putin-Biden summit.
But the Kremlin considers this announcement
“premature”.
The Russian army claims to have killed five
“saboteurs”
from Ukraine on its territory and to have arrested a Ukrainian soldier, Kiev denies having sent these men.
Putin judges that the peace process in this conflict has
“no prospect”
.
Two Ukrainian soldiers and a civilian are killed in separatist bombardments in the East.
In the evening, Vladimir Putin takes the floor and recognizes the independence of the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.
For its part, Ukraine is asking for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The EU declares itself to be “
ready to react
” in the event of recognition of the independence of the separatist regions by Moscow.