In the three decades since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it has often been remarked, with both surprise and relief, that the world’s second superpower came to an end with remarkably little violence. In the years that followed, small wars erupted periodically at long-standing, often interethnic, fault lines, which settled into today’s so-called “frozen conflicts”, and Russia waged two wars to keep its southern region of Chechnya.
But there was no conflict, as some had feared, along the lines of the civil war that broke out after the Bolshevik Revolution. The 15 Soviet republics went their separate ways in peace.
What Russia describes as a special military operation against Ukraine that began last month has brought about an interstate conflict, which can be seen in many ways as a delayed consequence of the Soviet collapse. Ukraine was one of several Soviet republics to hold an independence referendum in the autumn of 1991, and the overwhelming vote in favour helped make the demise of the Soviet Union inevitable. That December, Ukraine joined Belorussia (now Belarus) and Russia for a meeting that renounced the 1922 Treaty establishing the Soviet Union. Within the month, it was all over.
Except that it wasn’t really over between what became the Russian Federation – legally recognised as the successor state of the USSR – and Ukraine. In practice, in the early years, independence changed relatively little. As a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Ukraine had a degree of autonomy. It had its own legislature and its own Communist Party organisation and its own figurehead leaders, who occasionally fell out with Moscow on cultural issues. The Communist Party was disbanded, but the republic-level institutions simply became institutions of the new state, and economic ties between Moscow and Kyiv, including gas pipelines, went on pretty much as before. The borders remained almost as open as before, with Russians and Ukrainians routinely passing to and fro.
The differences widened to start with on the political and cultural fronts. But the separation reflected far more change on the Ukrainian than on the Russian side. The first overt political split came with the Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005, which brought Viktor Yushchenko, a fiercely pro-western candidate, to power. But the decisive break came in 2014, when street protests erupted again, this time over the then president’s refusal – after months of talks – not to sign a primarily economic Association Agreement with the EU.
Again, the fundamental argument was whether Ukraine should face east or west, and the westward orientation prevailed. This time, though, the conflict had descended into violence, and two small areas of the rustbelt Donbas region, in the east of the country, adjacent to Russia, took up arms against Kyiv.
This is the conflict that, eight years later, has provided the initial pretext for Russian President Vladimir Putin to announce Russia’s intervention: to protect the autonomy of those largely Russian-speaking regions, and what Moscow sees as their distinctive culture and ties with Russia.
As has been clear from Mr Putin’s writings and speeches over the past year, however, that his attachment to Ukraine – and, it has to be said, that of many Russians – goes much deeper than affinity with the roughly 5 per cent of the population living in the Donbas. He first aired his thoughts in a long essay published on the Kremlin website in July of last year. His nationwide television address two days before military action began, as well as what was essentially the declaration of war on February 23, went along the same lines.
Mr Putin repeatedly refers to Russians and Ukrainians as being “one people” or “one kin”. He sees them not just as an integral part of the wider Slavonic world, but as having a unique closeness to Russia. And this is because Russia’s origins as a state lie in Kyiv. It was the capital of what is known as Kievan Rus’, a mediaeval state that lasted from the 9th to 13th centuries, comprising much of today’s Ukraine, Belarus and northern and western Russia.
Some interpreted Mr Putin’s sentiments as a statement of intent: that Russia planned to unify Ukraine with Russia, by force if necessary. But Mr Putin is on record, several times, as recognising Ukraine’s status as an independent state. And – for what it is worth – his announcement of military action states that Russia has no desire to change Ukraine’s borders or occupy the country.
Te fundamental argument was whether Ukraine should face east or west, and the westward orientation prevailed
What he has said about Ukraine in recent months seemed, to me, rather to reflect regret that Ukraine had chosen to go its own way after 1991 and the hope of eventual reconciliation. Like many Russians, Mr Putin also expressed unhappiness, growing eventually into anger, that Ukraine was increasingly defining itself not just as a separate nation, with its own language, history and culture, but in opposition to Russia, with Russia being presented as the enemy.
Growing Russian resentment about the course being taken by independent Ukraine, however, would not – again, in my view – have been cause for direct intervention were it not for one element. Russia could tolerate Ukraine’s turn towards the West – it made no move, for instance, when Mr Yushchenko became President in 2005. It was the increasing involvement of the Nato alliance in Ukraine’s affairs after 2014 and the defence assistance given by the US and the UK, in particular – not just in training, but increasingly in weapons – that led directly to the conflict we are watching today.
However irrational it may look from the western perspective, Mr Putin (and Russia) saw Nato’s penetration into Ukraine, including into its defence ministry and its armed forces, as a potential threat to Russia’s security and possible preparation for Ukraine to become a platform for Nato to intervene directly in Russia. In response to the western and Nato insistence that the alliance is purely defensive and threatens no one, Russia simply lists Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. It takes for granted that everyone sees these as examples of Nato interventions undertaken without UN authorisation or, in the case of Libya, of distorting and going far beyond the UN Security Council mandate (which had, unusually, not been vetoed by Russia).
The more Ukraine seemed to be integrating into Nato, the more urgent the imperative, as Russia saw it, to pre-empt the latest stage in the expansion of Nato towards Russia’s borders. There is no need to get into the debate about whether Russia was, or was not, given undertakings by the US or Nato that there would be no expansion into the former Soviet states. That is Russia’s firm perception, and no amount of argument will change that.
Russia started trying to secure, as it saw it, its western borders late last year, with proposals contained in two draft treaties presented to the US and Nato in December as a basis for talks about new European security arrangements. Some modest progress was made, but not nearly enough for Russia, which at one point referred to Ukraine’s membership of Nato as a Russian “red line”. Mr Putin also made clear that his concern was not just about “Ukraine in Nato” – a remote prospect, because of divisions about Ukraine’s membership within Nato – but “Nato in Ukraine”.
The prospect of serious talks about European and Russian security receded and a last-minute diplomatic effort by French President Emmanuel Macron came to nothing. Russia’s distress, swelling into fury, about the split with a historical and cultural “brother” makes the current conflict especially bitter. But it was Russia’s fears for its own security, in the face of what it saw as Nato’s inexorable advance, that led it to act against Ukraine. The result will be tragedy for both countries.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
More on Quran memorisation:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The biog
Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Favourite music: Classical
Hobbies: Reading and writing
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Second ODI
England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)
England win by 86 runs
Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Yemen's civil war
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C108hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C340Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%20(front%20axle)%3B%20two-speed%20transmission%20(rear%20axle)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh928%2C400%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOrders%20open%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Company%20profile
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
SPECS
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UAE Team Emirates
Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
