Munir Ahmed<\/p>\n
Just a decade back, until the US provoked its political elite, Ukraine was a peaceful country believing in co-existence with traditional ties<\/p>\n
Twelve days on, Russia is hitting Ukraine. Four cities Third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine progressed for a temporary ceasefire to give safe passage to natives to take refuge in Belarus, Russia and other neighbouring countries. The UNHCR (United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees) says about 1.7 million have fled the war zone, including over a million to Poland. Russia is encouraging refugees to their land and Belarus. Ukraine is pressing on the residents of the war-hit cities to take refuge in peaceful cities, instead of going to Russia and Belarus. Ironically, the countries (the US, UK and some from Nato) that fueled the Russo-Ukraine conflict to become a war, are staying away from the hot pursuit. Even they are not accepting Ukrainian refugees on a humanitarian basis. Strange. Very strange. We commonly understand war politics and the economy. Surely, we need to understand refugee politics and business. This may be discussed separately.
\nWe are flooded with information on the Russia-Ukraine war, but only from the US and Western media. The crux is Russia has invaded Ukraine and created a humanitarian crisis. The portrayal of a bad cop. May be sane until the conflict built-up factors are not taken into consideration. Unfortunately, the crisis remains the only focus. The sequence and build-up of the situation in Ukraine over the decade and the US-backed Revolution of Dignity in 2014 is being missed out from pro-US stories and analysis in Western media. Another missing link is Ukraine\u2019s membership in Nato and EU and its consequences for Russia. Reviewing it all, retaliation seems inevitable. Most ironic for Ukraine is their instigators get aback; foreseeing a strong reaction from Russia against them. Quite sane decision of the US to stay away from the fire. It prevented Ukraine and the world from a widespread war.
\nAll the efforts on the way are to malign Russia for invasion and to manage refugees from Ukraine. No rational focus on the solution of the conflict. The United Nations Security Council is all out to ceasefire and wider and broader negotiations between the two parties. We have no clue about the Russian concerns and agenda. The US and the West shall restore the cut off voice of the Russian side.
\nFor centuries, Ukraine has been a part of Russia. Just a decade back, until the US provoked its political elite, Ukraine was a peaceful country believing in co-existence with traditional ties. After the annexation of Crimea, Russia has concerns over the \u201cprotection\u201d of the people of Donetsk and Lugansk \u2013 the two pro-Russian states. The recent Russian \u201cspecial military operation\u201d is said to demilitarize Ukraine in Donetsk and Lugansk. On the other hand, the US has announced $350 million in military aid to Ukraine while the Australian commitment is $50 million. More escalation is expected in this part of the map.
\nRussia has refuted the western allegations of planning to occupy the Ukrainian territory, and firing missiles and rockets on civilian peaceful facilities. The Russian authorities believe that NATO\u2019s eastward expansion threatens Russia\u2019s historical future as a nation. The Western powers have crossed the red line by bringing the alliance\u2019s infrastructure closer to Russia\u2019s borders. Ukraine is the centrepiece of the West\u2019s strategy of containing Russia. The ultra-nationalist Ukrainian regime introduced aggressive anti-Russian policies and waged war on the people of what they call \u201cDonetsk People\u2019s Republic\u201d and \u201cLugansk People\u2019s Republic.\u201d They believe Russia is open to diplomacy based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and considering each other\u2019s interests.
\nSome experts believe that President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin\u2019s February 24 military operation against Ukraine is in accordance with Article 51 (Chapter VII) of the UN Charter and the execution of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the Donetsk People\u2019s Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People\u2019s Republic (LPR). The purpose of this operation is to protect the people of the two states. The threat is posed by Ukrainian nationalists who hold the people of Ukraine as hostages, using them as a human shield by deploying heavy equipment and multiple rocket launchers in residential quarters. This is a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law, including articles 51 and 58 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.
\nRecently NATO leadership has been blunt in its statements that they need to accelerate and step up efforts to bring the alliance\u2019s infrastructure closer to Russia\u2019s borders. In December 2021, Russia made another attempt to reach an agreement with the US and its allies on the principles of European security and NATO\u2019s non-expansion. No positive signs yet.
\nThe prevailing situation may lead to further escalation in the region if the US and Nato continue to support anti-Russian elements in the territories adjacent to the Russian Federation. Certainly, Russia will not accept but retaliate to any further expansion of the NATO alliance\u2019s infrastructure close to the Russian borders. The US and Nato\u2019s ongoing military support to anti-Russia forces in Ukraine is a matter of grave concern, not for Russia alone but for the region too. Sane and rational thinking and actions accordingly, and abiding by the international laws and commitments would restore peace in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Munir Ahmed Just a decade back, until the US provoked its political elite, Ukraine was a peaceful country believing in co-existence with traditional ties Twelve days on, Russia is hitting Ukraine. Four cities Third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine progressed for a temporary ceasefire to give safe passage to natives to take refuge […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3158,338,456,932],"class_list":["post-248683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-article","tag-munir-ahmed","tag-russia","tag-ukraine","tag-war"],"yoast_head":"\n