Russian Invasion of Ukraine Is a Window to the World
The beautiful and the ugly — life in its bare form
I might come across as a stonyhearted and callous individual. It won’t change the fact that watching Russia unleashing its war machine on Ukraine had a cathartic effect on me. From the listless burden of office assignments to the detached concern of the world was such a welcome change.
Our country is in the midst of the largest state elections which the media was extensively covering. Suddenly, the space elections occupied is replaced by the war news. it’s so addictive. The therapeutic value of it is often understated.
Numerous studies have pointed to increased social cohesion during wartimes, decreased importance to self-worries and thus affecting a substantial reduction in the suicide rate. This war has many firsts to its credit — the first full-blown invasion of a European nation, the first war of two white races, the first non-muslim are, and the first full-blown one for Russia post world war II.
Till now the warmongering was the sole right of US-led NATO. What amuses me is the shameless conviction of the US, the giant-exploiter for whom war is an economic means, to act as a peace broker. What it did in Iraq — invading an independent country on the pretext of eliminating a regime that is harbouring weapons of mass destruction when the real reason was to wrest full control of the oil economy of the Arab world.
NATO and its devious ways
The current economic sanctions against Russia is the right decision but isn’t that unfair if NATO does the same it faces no such consequences because of its hegemony?
The general public opinion tends to side with the minion in a David vs Goliath set-up. Notwithstanding, Russia has its own merit.
The eastward expansion of NATO worries Russia esp that in Ukraine, which Putin termed, “an inalienable part of our own history, culture, and spiritual space”. In part, NATO is equally responsible as Russia for this war.
Since the Bucharest summit in 2008, when members pledged that Ukraine and Georgia will eventually become NATO members, both are waiting at the gates. The US showed little to no appetite to induct new members after two harrowing war experiences in the last 2 decades.
And it was particularly wary of crossing the line which surely would boil the Russian blood and put the world at the risk of WW-3. An unthinkable consequence.
Had NATO really wanted to help Ukraine against the Russian onslaught, it would surely have expedited the induction esp after the annexation of Crimea. Eight years have passed since and Ukraine is struggling with flimsy, amorphous conditions.
It is a miscalculation on the part of Volodymyr Zelensky to put his country at war against the might of one of the greatest armies. Either he didn’t see it coming or he thought NATO would not let his nation run over by Russians. He got it all wrong.
When Zelensky had pressed Biden repeatedly on membership, including during his visit to the White House. “I would like to discuss with President Biden here his vision, his government’s vision of Ukraine’s chances to join NATO and the time frame for this accession if it is possible,” he said as he sat next to the US president.
Biden blew past those comments without responding. All the 30 NATO countries must agree to Ukraine joining the alliance — an improbable situation since it would increase instability in Europe.
Given all odds against Ukraine, it finds itself in a precarious position, untouchable for NATO and at loggerheads with Russian imperialistic ambition.
Zelensky and his naive charisma
A comedian, dancer, successful businessman and popular president. He did all this by 40. Zelensky, with no political background, was elected as an unconventional choice who was deemed fit to eradicate corruption. Ukraine’s population has made its pro-europian verdict unambiguously clear in the last 3 elections.
With that background, Putin can’t subvert a 40 million-plus population’s will. Even if he captures Kyiv, puts up a puppet government and tries to run Ukraine the way he does in Belarus, he is up for a rude jolt. There are 25000 men who have volunteered to take arms to stop Russians.
The images like these are getting commonplace as the war deepens.
The tanks, unlike in WW II, can’t overrun a man. Any such act would immediately attract widespread condemnation and thereby losing the psychological edge. If more and more people, unarmed, circle army vehicles like this then the basic element of fear from the vanquished will be gone.
With no fear in people’s hearts, there is no victory and no victor.
Zelensky with his sheer courage to stay put and with his passionate appeal to his citizens seems to have turned the tide against Putin. His lack of politicking is working for him.
The anti-tank, easy to use, Javelins missiles will make it impossible for the tanks to roll through the city centre. The other option is to assassinate the president, which sounds possible but difficult to execute. Even if it happens, the uprisings, mutinies and guerilla warfare would make it impossible for Putin to contain.
Peace through war
What amuses me is the unabashed show of distress by western media on the killings of a white man by another white man. The world order was different when white men waged wars on third world countries, suddenly it’s much more relatable.
With the stalemate and the directionless path to victory Putin is pressing for talks. His one unwavering condition is: Ukraine must drop its NATO membership goals forever. It’s a proposition for which the US and its allies are not too keen.
It’s about protecting self-interest. All nations invariably do it, forget the rhetoric and sloganeering. India, for instance, abstained from voting against the condemnation motion in the UN council. It did so not because it is with Russia’s aggression, it did so because Russia is the biggest arms supplier to India. We need its support against the potential conflict with China.
We have seen the solutions that come through war — even the best in business, the US, botched up big time in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was not the fault in execution, the fault is in design. The era of subjugation of a nation’s will is gone.
Peace serves everyone’s interest and the wartimes make us realize it more than ever.