INTERNATIONAL: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that it was impossible to have good relations with the current Ukrainian government and that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had come under the influence of "radical forces."

Ukraine says it is gearing up for a possible invasion by Russian troops - which Moscow denies - and Zelenskiy this week said he was ready to talk with Russia "in any format," which the Kremlin has so far rejected.

So, what is at the heart of the conflict that has been going on for more than seven years?

What is now Ukraine, Russia and neighbouring Belarus were born on the banks of the Dnieper River, almost 1,200 years ago in Kievan Rus, a medieval superpower that included a huge chunk of Eastern Europe.

But Russians and Ukrainians parted ways linguistically, historically and, most importantly, politically.

Putin has, however, claimed repeatedly that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people”, part of the “Russian civilisation” that also includes neighbouring Belarus. Ukrainians reject his claims.

Ukraine went through two revolutions in 2005 and 2014, both times rejecting Russia’s supremacy and seeking a path to join the European Union and NATO.

Putin is particularly enraged by the prospect of NATO bases next to his borders and says Ukraine joining the US-led transatlantic alliance would mark the crossing of a red line.