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Russia–Ukraine: origins, war since 2014 and timeline

Published 15 October 2026 · 17:31 UTCUpdated 7 November 2026 · 09:11 UTC

This dossier traces the Russia–Ukraine war from the seizure of Crimea and the start of fighting in the Donbas in 2014, through the full-scale invasion of 24 February 2022 and its military, diplomatic, economic and humanitarian consequences. It distinguishes recognised sovereignty, claimed annexations and actual military control. Earlier milestones explain relations between the two states since Ukrainian independence in 1991: the 1994 Budapest security assurances, the 1997 friendship treaty, the 2003 Tuzla crisis, gas disputes and the 2010 Kharkiv agreements. The suspension of preparations for the European Union agreement in November 2013 opens the Euromaidan crisis. These antecedents are distinguished from the war that began in 2014; each entry links to its sources. The timeline follows Ilovaisk, Donetsk airport, Debaltseve, the Minsk agreements, disengagement attempts, fighting and the humanitarian crisis in Avdiivka in 2017, the trade blockade, detainee exchanges and the Kerch maritime crisis. It then documents the war’s expansion, Ukrainian territorial recaptures, Bakhmut, international justice, grain, energy, external assistance and negotiations. Retrospective investigations are identified and claims remain attributed. This selection of turning points includes canonical occurrences from the archived energy dossier. It expands previously sparse years without providing an exhaustive daily record: local fighting, successive sanctions, all weapons deliveries and population displacement are not detailed. Cumulative military losses and complete territorial control remain coverage limitations.

Latest event : 6 November 202687 key moments

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Berlaymont in July 2006; institutional archive illustration, not the Warsaw meeting. JLogan, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; unmodified. — JLogan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; juillet 2006 ; sans modification.

Where things stand

As of 6 November 2026, Kaja Kallas says in Warsaw that the EU must be part of any war settlement and Ukraine must be integrated into Europe’s security architecture. She gives no timetable for an agreement. The Commission announced a €4.36 billion payment to Ukraine the previous day; final use of the defence component remains unestablished.

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6 November 2026Confirmed

Ukraine: Kallas asserts EU role in any peace settlement at Warsaw talks

Kaja Kallas said in Warsaw on 6 November 2026 that the European Union must be part of any settlement of the war in Ukraine for it to be implemented. She spoke alongside the Polish and Ukrainian foreign ministers.

European Commission headquarters in Brussels. — Berlaymont in July 2006; institutional archive illustration, not the Warsaw meeting. JLogan, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; unmodified. — JLogan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; juillet 2006 ; sans modification.

The EU foreign policy chief also supported integrating Ukraine into Europe’s security architecture and rejected a Russian veto over that arrangement, Reuters reports.

Askanews reports that she could predict neither the form nor timing of an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. LaPresse separately reports her support for initiatives seeking a just and lasting peace.

The statements clarify Europe’s position in diplomatic discussions. They are neither a concluded peace agreement nor an announcement of a timetable accepted by the warring parties.

Sources 4

5 November 2026Reported information

EU announces €4.36 billion disbursement to Ukraine

The European Commission announced a €4.36 billion disbursement to Ukraine on 5 November 2026: €3.7 billion in macro-financial assistance and €658 million for defence. Ukraine’s Finance Ministry confirmed receipt of the €3.7 billion in the state budget.

The Berlaymont building in Brussels. — Archive, July 2006; does not depict the payment. JLogan, CC BY 3.0; unchanged. — JLogan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; juillet 2006 ; sans modification.

The payment forms part of the European support loan worth up to €90 billion for 2026-27. The Commission says budget assistance is intended to sustain institutions and essential public services, while the defence component is intended to fund military equipment.

The Ukrainian confirmation specifically concerns macro-financial assistance, rather than the final use of all the funds. The ministry links disbursements to reforms agreed with the European Union.

This payment is an implementation step under the loan. It does not mean the full €90 billion has been paid or all funded equipment has already been delivered.

Sources 3

4 November 2026Reported information

Ukraine: Zelensky prepares Abu Dhabi talks with US envoys

Volodymyr Zelensky said on 4 November 2026 that he had spoken for 90 minutes with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Speaking from Madrid, Ukraine's president was preparing for the next planned trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi.

The Berlaymont in Brussels in July 2006. — Archive image, not the 4 November discussions. JLogan, CC BY 3.0; unchanged. — JLogan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; juillet 2006 ; sans modification.

According to the Ukrainian account, the call covered air defence munitions, the drone agreement with the United States and post-war security guarantees. These topics describe discussions; no completed peace agreement was announced.

The same day, the European Commission hosted Ukrainian, US, NATO and European national representatives in Brussels to coordinate positions. The Abu Dhabi meetings announced for 10–11 November remain ahead.

Sources 4

3 November 2026Confirmed

Ukraine: Brussels announces meeting with Washington and allies on 4 November

The European Commission announced on 3 November 2026 that it would host representatives of Ukraine, the United States, France, Germany, the UK, NATO and the World Bank in Brussels the following day.

Flag of Ukraine. — Symbolic illustration; not the meetings. Ukrainian government / Wikimedia Commons, public domain; PNG rendering. — Gouvernement ukrainien / Wikimedia Commons — domaine public, drapeau, rendu PNG.

Spokesperson Paula Pinho said the consultations would build on the Miami discussions. The announcement concerns a meeting, with no diplomatic outcome or new financing established at this stage.

Separately, US envoy Steve Witkoff announced talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, mediated by the US, in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November. He said post-war security and de-escalation would be discussed. Both meetings remain announced steps with unknown outcomes.

Sources 3

3 November 2026Reported information

Komyshuvakha: Zelensky raises reported strike death toll to 33

Volodymyr Zelensky raised the reported death toll from the previous day’s Russian strikes on Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to 33 on the afternoon of 3 November 2026. The Ukrainian president said more than 50 people could still be under the rubble.

The figure replaces a toll of 29 reported on the morning of 3 November, then 31 later that morning. It remains provisional: searches continue in the damaged building, a school used for humanitarian aid and shelter according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne documents the successive updates and reports that residents of nearby villages had come to collect aid. People potentially trapped under the rubble are not added to the number of deaths established by the authorities.

Sources 3

3 November 2026Reported information

Komyshuvakha: Ukrainian authorities raise strike death toll to 29

Ukrainian authorities raised the death toll from Russian strikes on Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia region to 29 on the morning of 3 November 2026, according to Suspilne and UNN news agency. The 2 November attack hit a school being used to distribute humanitarian aid.

Rescuers continue searching the rubble. Regional authorities also report missing people; these reports should not be added to the deaths as though they constituted a final toll.

Emergency services had announced 26 deaths the previous evening, including two rescuers and four police officers. The revision to 29 was reported the following morning. The toll remains attributed to Ukrainian authorities and may change as victims are identified; the consulted sources do not establish a final independent count.

Sources 3

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