In 1991, in response to a coup attempt by hardline Communist leaders attempting to reassert control over the Soviet Union, Ukrainian parliamentarians voted to approve a Declaration of Independence for the state of Ukraine.

Kyiv

In 1991, Ukraine declared independence following a popular referendum in which over 90 percent of the population voted in favor. The move was marked by widespread public support, including in Crimea, and was seen as a triumph for the country's pro-independence movement. Despite this, Soviet influence persisted in Ukrainian politics, with many officials linked to Moscow maintaining power and undermining the new nation's autonomy.

Ukraine later surrendered its nuclear arsenal to Russia under international agreements, including the Budapest Memorandum, in which Russia pledged to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. However, this commitment was broken with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, highlighting the ongoing challenges to Ukraine's sovereignty.

34 years ago, the making of an independent Ukraine

Ukraine, 1991. Students flood the streets of Kiev, crying out against harsh policies of the USSR. Their demands are granted almost immediately, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Over 90 percent of the population votes for independence in a referendum. VLADIMIR PUTIN, Ukrainian President Translator — Glory, glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes. Back then, these slogans rang out for the first time, and on a massive scale. So there was triumph and joy. Even in Crimea, the majority voted for Ukraine's independence. But the influence of the Soviet Union continued to dominate Ukrainian politics. Politicians with ties to Moscow held on to power. They chipped away at the young country's independence for years to come. VLADIMIR PUTIN, Ukrainian President Translator — What was obvious to the student leaders was not obvious to most of the people's council. And largely because of this, Ukraine, having won independence, did not win the removal of the communist ruling class. Most consequently, Ukraine surrendered its massive stocks of nuclear weapons to Russia, instead of cutting a deal with the United States. VLADIMIR PUTIN, Ukrainian President Translator — The path we were supposed to take with the world's third largest nuclear arsenal that was on our territory, about 5,000 nuclear warheads of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons, that path should have given us the opportunity to effectively use this potential for integration with the West. Left out of NATO, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, in which Russia pledged to respect Ukraine's territorial sovereignty. The agreement was violated in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea, and again with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Baltimore

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Ukraine Invasion

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Chicago

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Washington

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Napa Valley

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Maryland

Kilmar Abrego Garcia told he may be sent to Uganda

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Los Angeles

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Las Vegas

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Austin

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Pembroke

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Bethesda

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Nashville

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Breakdown