Timeline Archives

Unusual Russian troop movement near Ukrainian border

On November 10th, the United States first reports unusual Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border. Since then, US intelligence reports become increasingly stark, with suggestions of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

On 4 March, 15 March, 21 March and 29 March. 

NATO recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner

Ukraine is the sixth country to receive this status. Being an Enhanced Opportunities Partner will bring Ukraine several potential benefits including improved access to interoperability programs and exercises. It also offers the prospect of greater information and experience sharing.​

First prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since 2014

Volodymyr Zelensky is elected as the new president of Ukraine

President Putin officially opens bridge between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula

Association agreement between EU and Ukraine enters into force

Meaning: markets for free trade of all goods, services and visa-free travel to EU for Ukrainian citizens

18 March
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

29 June
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

The Second Minsk Agreement signed

17 February
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

19 December
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

First Minsk Agreement signed

The Minsk Protocol agreements are signed by the Trilateral Contact Group in Ukraine. The group consisted of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The agreements failed to end the violence that continued unabated.

16 September
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

6 August
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

17 July
MH17 shot down by a Russian missile; with loss of almost 300 lives

European Council adopts sanctions against Russia in the fields of defence, concerning “dual-use goods in the field of energy”, and in financial services.

24 July
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

21 June
Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

Canada further amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations

On 4 May and 12 May.

11 May
A referendum in Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic

It was stated that almost 90% of the voters voted in favor of political independence of both regions. Ukraine did not recognize the referendum, and the EU and US stated that the polls were illegal.

29 May
Petro Poroshenko elected as the new president of Ukraine

Self-proclamation of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics-DNR/LNR

Pro-Russian paramilitary forces with the clandestine military support from Russia take control of the Eastern regions of Donbass and proclaim their independence from Ukraine.

Government of Canada amends the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (“the Regulations”)

Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula

Russia seizes Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula with a predominantly ethnic Russian population, in the aftermath of the Euromaidan protests.

The annexation prompts international outrage and is condemned by the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Canada, and other Western countries.

Russia is expelled from the Group of Eight (G8)

17 March
Canada imposed sanctions related on Russia, to respond to the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula

The Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (“the Regulations”) came into force. The Regulations impose an asset freeze and dealings prohibition on designated individuals and entities (Schedule 1), and impose restrictions on certain sectors, such as the financial and energy sectors.

Euromaidan Revolution

The pro-European protests on the Maidan Square turned into a revolution with the unseating of the Yanukovych regime (the Pro-Russian regime).

18 February
Bloody night at Maidan square

More than 20 people die, approximately 200 to 1000 people hospitalized.

20 February
EU enacts sanctions against Ukrainian Government officials

(Visa and financial sanctions)

21 February
Yanukovych and opposition leaders sign an agreement on settling the political situation

22 February
Yanukovich flees Ukraine

22 January
USA recalls visas of those involved in breaking up Euromaidan

First negotiations between opposition leaders and the Ukrainian Government

28 January
Canada enacts sanctions against Ukrainian Government Officials

(30 November) – 1 December: Violent breakup of peaceful protests in Kyiv
Police surround protestors on Maidan; more than 300 people injured. This violent breakup of the peaceful protests led to an unprecedented mass rally on the streets of Kyiv.

21 November
Preparation for agreement regarding association between EU and Ukraine is put on hold by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers
This decision led to protests in Kyiv.

Russia fights possible Ukrainian NATO Membership
NATO summit with intense debate about extending a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Ukraine. President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin makes his opposition to Ukrainian membership known. NATO does not offer Ukraine a MAP.

22 November: Orange Revolution in Ukraine
“Orange Revolution” refers to the events associated with the presidential elections of 2004 in Ukraine. When reports made clear that election officials were in on electoral fraud, over one million citizens poured into the streets of Kyiv, marched in protest and formed human barricades around government buildings.

5 December: Budapest memorandum
Following negotiations involving the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, the USA and Great Britain, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was assured. In exchange, Ukraine relinquished all of its nuclear warheads to Russia for decommissioning and joined the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) as a non-nuclear state.

1 December:
Referendum on Ukrainian independence from the Soviet-Union
83.9% of the voters in Donetsk supported Ukrainian Independence, as well as 83.6% of the voters in Luhansk.

8 December:
Belovezh Accords
This treaty, signed by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, brought about the end of the Soviet-Union. A new organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States was formed.

21 December:
Alma Ata Protocols
Signed by 11 countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan), recognizing and respecting each other’s integrity and inviolability of existing borders.