I'm not particularly read up on the issue besides a general chronology but, Mr. B, I believe it kicked off when Ukraine's former President, Viktor Yanukovych, agreed to more co-operation with Russia over the EU. Then essentially a revolution broke out and Yanukovych eventually fled. Then the pro-Russian element in Ukraine began large protests against the new govt.
Russia weren't happy with what they seem to consider an illegitimate coup and eventually annexed the Crimean peninsula - which has a majority of ethnic Russians. Then there was a very dubious treaty in which Crimea is to become a part of the Federation.
And then Russia started to back Ukrainian insurgents - not officially - there's been clashes in Ukraine between them and govt. forces known as the War in Donbass (the Donbass region). That Malaysian Airlines was shot down.
And now they seem to be trying to make steps towards a ceasefire.
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