Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 marked a pivotal moment in modern European history, setting the stage for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that resumed in 2022.[1,2] This strategic Black Sea peninsula has become both a symbol of territorial dispute and a critical military asset that continues to shape the dynamics of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
It’s important to know the long-term context to fully understand the current conflict and the implications of President Donald Trump’s negotiations between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Historical background and