Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022, became the largest war since the end of the Cold War and is fundamentally shaking the world order.
Basic Knowledge
On February 24, 2022, Russia(President Putin) began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Calling it a "special military operation," Russia attempted to seize Kyiv, but the attack was stopped by the Ukrainian forces led by President Zelenskyy and support from the West. Its background includes the eastward expansion of NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and Ukraine's desire to join the EU and NATO. The G7, including Japan, imposed economic sanctions on Russia. In 2023, Finland, and in 2024, Sweden joined NATO, reshaping Europe's security map. On October 7, 2023, a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas began the Gaza War(the Israel-Hamas War), further intensifying the situation in the Middle East.
2020 George Floyd incident in the United States→BLM movement; Biden wins the U.S. presidential election
2021 U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan; Taliban returns to power
February 24, 2022 Russia invades Ukraine
July 8, 2022 Shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
September 2022 Death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
May 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit(nuclear disarmament message)
October 7, 2023 Hamas surprise attack→Gaza War
In Depth (Background and Impact)
Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused food and energy prices to rise worldwide. In Japan, electricity and gas prices increased, and the weak yen added to rising prices. In December 2022, Japan revised its National Security Strategy, specified possession of a counterstrike capability(enemy-base attack capability), and decided to double defense spending to 2% of GDP(a major change from exclusively defense-oriented policy). In May 2023, the G7 Hiroshima Summit was held, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited President Zelenskyy and issued a message on nuclear disarmament. China's rise has also been remarkable: Chairman Xi Jinping entered an unusual third term in 2023, and the risk of a Taiwan contingency began to be discussed in Japan as well.
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine = February 24, 2022
- Russian president = Putin; Ukrainian president = Zelenskyy
- NATO membership = Finland in 2023; Sweden in 2024
- Shinzo Abe shooting = July 8, 2022(Nara City)
- G7 Hiroshima Summit = May 2023(Fumio Kishida)
- Counterstrike capability = revision of the three security documents in December 2022
- Defense spending = policy to double it to 2% of GDP
Points to Note (Easy to Confuse)
① The 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine were parts of Russia's continuing aggression but different phases. ② Do not confuse NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance, 1949), the EU(European Union, 1993), and the United Nations(1945). ③ Distinguish the G7(seven major countries: the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada) from the G20(20 countries including emerging economies). ④ Xi Jinping is General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of China; Putin is President of Russia; Zelenskyy is President of Ukraine.
Practice
- What is the date on which Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine?
- Where was the G7 summit held in May 2023?
- Who was the former Japanese prime minister who was shot and killed in July 2022?