Did Putin Start the Russia-Ukraine War?

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the origins and development of the Russia-Ukraine war, challenging the simplified narrative that blames Vladimir Putin entirely. It explores the complex links between NATO expansion, Western interventions, and Russia’s security concerns, showing that the war's start goes beyond Putin’s desire for glory. The study looks at the key historical guarantees made to Moscow and shows how breaking these promises increased Russian mistrust of the West. A simple blame game overlooks the deeper causes of the crisis, delaying diplomatic efforts and peace talks. The paper summarises the main issues at the end and discusses the way forward.