On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion, prompting the imposition of substantial economic and political sanctions by the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries. The Russian government has a specified "Unfriendly Countries List" which indicates those countries with which relations are now strained (or non-existent). A Foreign Policy Concept approved by president Vladimir Putin in 2023 identified Russia as a Eurasian civilization state; aligning the country more closely with Asia, the Islamic world, Africa, Latin America, and the rest of the Global South. Russia is also seeking the end of the Western hegemony in the international order.

Europe Positive relations Abkhazia President Aslan Bzhaniya stated that Russia's invasion was "absolutely justified."

Artsakh President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan welcomed Russia's declaration of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The Artsakh government sent 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Azerbaijan The government of Azerbaijan has taken a relatively neutral position on the conflict, and maintained cooperation with both Moscow and Kyiv owing to its security, political, and economic ties and dependence on regional players.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has previously expressed his support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and urged his Ukrainian counterparts to "never to agree to the violation of your territorial integrity". He offered to organize talks between Ukraine and Russia, instructed Azerbaijan's State Oil Company SOCAR to provide free fuel to Ukraine's ambulances and State Emergency Service and sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Before the war, Russia and Azerbaijan signed a joint wide-ranging political-military agreement which President Aliyev described as bringing "relations to the level of an alliance", and the two countries later entered into a new intelligence-sharing agreement. However, relations between the two countries have since declined significantly, and have been described as "probably their worst crisis since Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991", following the Russian downing of passenger plane Flight 8243, as well as tensions over the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and other tensions.

In April 2026, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy visited Azerbaijan where he signed agreements with President Aliyev on enhanced co-operation between the two countries, including in the areas of the defence-industry, regional security, and the energy sector.

Belarus In February 2022, Russian forces were permitted to stage part of the invasion from Belarusian territory. President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarusian troops could take part in the invasion if needed. Belarus stated that Russia could bring its nuclear weapons onto Belarusian soil. In March 2022, Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of Ukrainian Railways, said that the railway connection between Ukraine and Belarus had closed, so Russian equipment from Belarus could not be delivered. On 25 March 2023, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would station tactical nuclear operations in Belarus.

Serbia While condemning the invasion, Serbia refused to back sanctions against Russia. Serbia did not impose sanctions. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said the National Security Council concluded the Republic of Serbia considers "very wrong the violation of territorial integrity of a number of countries including Ukraine." Vučić also said that he would condemn Russia's recognition of the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine only if Zelenskyy condemned the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 on public television.

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selaković said that "Russia was Serbia's biggest support in its battle to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty and avoid the stigmatisation of the entire Serb people." Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin stressed that Serbia would not join NATO: "While Aleksandar Vučić is the head of the state, you should have no dilemma as to what our attitude toward the NATO alliance is." Serbia expressed regrets over events, describing both Russia and Ukraine as friendly states and underlining full support for the Ukraine's territorial integrity. The initial weak response by the government was criticised by some commentators in the country and the region.

The Serbian organization Women in Black organised anti-war demonstrations in Belgrade, and the Serbian Orthodox Church organised a collection of humanitarian aid.

On 2 March Serbia voted 'yes' to the UN's resolution condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine.

On 16 May Serbia signed the "Tirana declaration" and deplored in the strongest terms the illegal and unjustified aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

The Economist classified Serbia as "neutral".

South Ossetia The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement: "The Republic of South Ossetia expresses its support for the decision of the Russian Federation to conduct the special military operation to protect the residents of Donbas from the current nationalist regime of Kyiv." On 26 March 2022, South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov began sending troops to Ukraine to assist Russia with the invasion.

Transnistria On 26 February, President Vadim Krasnoselsky, asserted that Transnistria was a peaceful state and never had plans to attack its neighbours. Krasnoselski noted the large ethnically Ukrainian population in Transnistria and that Ukrainian is taught in Transnistrian schools and is one of its official languages.

Other relations Armenia The Armenian MFA spokesman on 23 February expressed "hope that the existing problems between the two friendly states would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue", and declared Armenia's readiness to accept refugees. On 1 June 2023, during an interview, prime minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated, "Armenia is not an ally of Russia in the war in Ukraine."

Bosnia and Herzegovina Tripartite Presidency Member Željko Komšić said Bosnia would support Ukraine. Croat and Bosniak members of the tripartite presidency, Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović, issued separate statements condemning the Russian invasion. The Serb member Milorad Dodik did not, instead stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina was neutral. He'd said the previous day that events showed it was good that Bosnia and Herzegovina had not joined NATO, and that the country would not support sanctions. Foreign Minister Bisera Turković said: "Bosnia and Herzegovina remains firmly committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we call for an immediate end to fighting and shelling! OSCE principles, security and international law are under attack today. Hostility and suffering of innocent civilians must end immediately". Turković called on Russia and Belarus to refrain from using force in the interests of peace, and regional and global stability.

Dodik repeatedly visited Russia, including attending Eastern Economic Summit.

Hungary Prime Minister Victor Orban had made strong arguments related to NATO expansion to the East, and stated that Ukraine never could join either EU nor NATO. Orban defended Russia and Hungarian relations. Hungary was one of a few European countries to maintain relations with Russia, despite many sanctions or obstacles faced between bilateral relations of Russia and Hungary.

Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger stated that "The Russian imperialism has been restored in front of our eyes in its aggressive, militant form" and about Russian president Vladimir Putin added "All victims of this war will be his victims and he will be responsible for them in the eyes of the global public." On 24 February 2022, Bratislava Castle and the seat of President of Slovakia Grassalkovich Palace in Bratislava was lighted in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine. Slovakia provided Ukraine with an S-300 air defense system.

Turkey On 3 February 2022, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan volunteered to organize a Ukraine-Russia conference during a visit to Ukraine, as EU leaders increased outreach to the Kremlin to calm worries of a Russian invasion. On 24 February, Erdoğan expressed his support for Ukraine. On 25 February, on the other hand, the Republic of Turkey abstained from voting on Russia's suspension from the Council of Europe, instead calling for open dialogue between the parties under any circumstances. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey's "readiness to host negotiations that could take place between the Russian Federation and Ukraine".

On 27 February 2022, Cavusoglu shifted its terminology to refer to Russia's assault on Ukraine as a "war," and committed to enforce elements of the 1936 Montreux Convention's international pact that allowed Turkey to prohibit all warships of the belligerent forces, including those of the Russian navy, from entering the Bosporus and Dardanelles and thus hinder Russian vessels' transit from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. On 28 February, Erdoğan confirmed that the straits would be closed to prevent escalation, while pledging to maintain relations with both Ukraine and Russia. On 10 March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Dmytro Kuleba met in Antalya in Turkey, the first high-level contact between the two sides since the invasion. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also participated. Mr Cavusoglu said the aim of the diplomatic meeting was "to pave the way," for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, which would be facilitated by Turkey's president.

Turkey actively participated in mediation efforts. Ukraine asked both Israel and Turkey to set up talks with Russia.

Turkey had been providing Ukraine with Bayraktar drones since 2019, which played a significant role in deterring Russian advances in the early stages of the invasion, but did not impose sanctions on Russia.

On 17 March 2022, Cavusoglu expressed hope for a humanitarian ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, where he claimed more than 100 Turkish citizens remained.

On 20 March 2022, Cavusoglu stated that Russia and Ukraine were close to agreement on "important" issues, and that he hoped for a ceasefire.

Vatican City Pope Francis stated that the events in Ukraine had caused "great pain in his heart". The Pope called for 2 March, Ash Wednesday, to be a day of prayer and fasting for peace. In an unprecedented departure from diplomatic protocol, the Pope went to the Russian embassy on 25 February to relay his concern.

The Pope said to Russian youth, "Never forget your heritage. You are the descendants of great Russia: the great Russia of saints, rulers, the great Russia of Peter I, Catherine II, that empire – educated, great culture and great humanity. Never give up on this heritage." This comment was received negatively by the government of Ukraine.

Strained relations

European Union The EU launch a group of sanctions against Russia, which added all EU countries to the list of "unfriendly nations".

Albania In mid February 2022, Lavrov accused Albania and two other Balkan countries of sending mercenaries to the Donbass conflict in Ukraine. The claims were rejected by Albanian officials.

Albanian President Ilir Meta, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka, and Ambassador to the UN Ferit Hoxha made statements condemning the invasion. Russia's recognition of the separatist regions in the Ukrainian Donbass as independent was condemned by Albania as a violation of the Minsk Protocol, international law, and of Ukraine's statehood and borders.