On February 24th, 2022, in the early hours of the morning, shortly after Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian nation on television, the invasion of Ukraine began. Two years have gone by, and many developments have taken place since that have altered modern history and possibly changed the global landscape for the following decades. Here are some of the things that we have learned as we head into the third year of the most violent conflict on the European continent since the end of World War II
• The impact of the war and the danger posed by Russia, led European countries to consider the reintroduction of conscription. In 2015, compulsory military service commenced in Norway and Lithuania, while Latvia reinstated conscription in 2023.
• Within Europe, there is a growing sentiment of pessimism and anxiety towards the war, with a majority hoping the conflict would end with a peaceful settlement while the others advocating for justice (Ukraine reclaiming the territories taken by Russia).
• The United States and the European Union have jointly contributed more than $170 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian aid over the last two years.
• The conflict seems to have amplified an existing divide in the world, with the wealthiest democracies on one side and large industrial powerhouses on the other, such as China and India.
• Aside from the military and humanitarian costs associated with the war, this conflict has caused significant trade disruptions in the world, changed the dynamic of international institutions, and offered the European Union a reason to rethink its energy strategy and overall security.
