The Russia-Ukraine War as seen from the Ukrainian perspective, is a battle for survival and sovereignty and, more importantly, for the right to decide its future. For the Ukrainians, the conflict was not only over territorial integrity but also over their very existence. This has been a war fueled by deep misunderstandings-many of which trace back to Russia's inability to accept Ukraine's identity as an independent nation with its own aspirations and affiliations.
The greatest misunderstanding probably revolves around the nature of Ukraine's turn to the West. This was not, for Kyiv, an aggressive act but rather a natural course of events for a nation yearning for democracy, prosperity, and security. Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership and closer ties with the European Union was driven by a desire to escape the shadow of Soviet domination and to build a modern, sovereign state. Moscow’s claim that these actions were intended to threaten Russia’s security ignored the reality that Ukraine’s moves were defensive, meant to protect itself from future aggression.
The annexation of Crimea in 2014 is another flashpoint that highlights these misunderstandings. For Ukraine, the invasion and subsequent referendum conducted by Russia are nakedly illegal under international law and in violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine. The story about the need to protect Russian-speaking populations is only a cover for territorial expansion. Kyiv believes that the rights of Russian-speaking citizens in Crimea were never under threat, which makes Moscow's justification a nullity. For Ukraine, annexation was not about the protection of cultural ties but rather about Russia's desire to dominate a strategically important region.
In Eastern Ukraine, the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk has further strained perceptions. Ukraine views Russia's support for separatist movements as a calculated attempt to destabilize the country and undermine its government. Kyiv has continuously denied accusations of persecuting the Russian-speaking population, claiming that the stories are created to serve as a pretext for Russian intervention. The war in the Donbas region is a proxy war Ukraine believes Moscow orchestrates to maintain the country's division and weakening.
A key area of misunderstanding is the function of NATO. For Ukraine, joining NATO does not represent aggression but rather a move to ensure safety in an ever more hostile climate. Kyiv argues that Russian opposition to further NATO expansion has ignored Ukraine's right as an independent state to choose its allegiances. Membership in NATO means for Ukraine being protected from more invasions than it provokes Moscow.
Other important narratives in the cultural and historical perspectives are that there is a difference in view, mainly due to Russia's argument that Ukraine has historically been within its sphere of influence. To the Kyiv administration, this seems to be an effort to eradicate the identity of Ukraine. Despite having many commonalities in terms of culture and history, Ukraine asserts that it has a separate national identity that needs to be preserved. Moscow's message of common legacy is seen as a pretext for the interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine.
Another source of tensions has been economic. The western sanctions imposed against Russia after annexation of Crimea were supported by Ukraine as needed measures to ensure Moscow was being held accountable for its actions. However, Russian officials have blamed Kyiv for allowing the imposition of these sanctions to cripple Russia's economy. It is another instance in which Moscow misreads its own actions. Sanctions are perceived as something Russians unleashed with their aggression, rather than as a strategy to be launched by Kyiv.
Misunderstandings have also been involved in the international community reaction to war. Ukraine sees Western support through military aid, sanctions, and diplomatic support as essential to its survival. Moscow's interpretation of that support-as evidence of western meddling into internal Ukraine politics-camouflages over Ukraine's agency and the legitimacy of this appeal for help. For Kyiv, that interpretation denies it the legitimacy of rallying international support and shifts blame away from the aggressor.
The human cost of the conflict cannot be overstated. For Ukraine, the war has brought immense suffering, with thousands of lives lost and millions displaced. Kyiv sees Moscow's refusal to acknowledge this suffering as a fundamental misunderstanding of the war's impact. The Kremlin's focus on geopolitical narratives often overlooks the human tragedy unfolding on the ground, further alienating Ukraine and deepening the divide.
Ukraine has also disputed the way Moscow defends itself as protecting Russian-speaking communities. Kyiv claims that these were never in a position of needing protection and instead, Moscow is the one which has caused damage more than defense. The War has destroyed Communities in Eastern Ukraine with many speaking Russian fleeing war. For the Ukraine, that reality is that which contradicts Russia's pretensions and highlights the true reasons for its involvement.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, through the eyes of Kyiv, is an attempt to defend its borders, but also its identity and future. From this perspective, the misperceptions that fuel the war are perceived as willful distortions by Moscow in an effort to justify its actions and deflect responsibility. For Ukraine, this war is a constant reminder of what independence costs and requires a tremendous amount of strength in defense. While the road to peace remains uncertain, Kyiv’s resolve to uphold its sovereignty remains unwavering.