A Solid, Unified Response To Russias Aggression – Global Issues
LONDON, February 25 (IPS) – It is clear that diplomacy is not important to Vladimir Putin. Despite the efforts of a series of presidents and prime ministers to avert conflict, on February 24, Putin began the war he wanted.
It is obvious that Putin wishes to maintain a Cold War-style sphere of influence around Russia’s borders. This suggests this is more than just his treatment of Ukraine, seemingly chastised for leaning more towards the West and entertaining a vague idea of joining NATO.
Putin intervened unequivocally supporting a fraudulently elected dictator in Belarus; In return, Belarus became a customer of Russia, the starting point for forces now headed for Kyiv.
In January, Russian troops were dispatched to suppress a protest movement aimed at political and economic change in Russia. Kazakhstan. For now, requests for democracy or even demonstrations of autonomy will not be allowed in what Putin sees as Russia’s buffer zone, and force will be used if required.
Power has no responsibility
The invasion began with Putin’s recognition of the two regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, controlled by Russia and aligned with Russia since the 2014 conflict. Russian troops were deployed to those areas shortly after, although they are still part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine.
It was a prelude to a larger invasion underway.
This decisive move is preceded by a strange televised ceremony about statesmanship, in which individual members of Putin’s security council lined up to give an opinion that coincided with his, in scenes reminiscent of a Soviet-era demonstration trial. Shove.
The staged discussion began with Putin delivering an angry speech, not the first, in which he denied Ukraine’s right to exist separate from Russia.
This is what unexperienced, uncountable power looks like, and this is where erratic, emotional, and possibly catastrophic decisions are made. Putin has eliminated all real political opposition. He is changed the rules stay in power as long as he likes, won vote not adversaries to freedom or justice from afar and imprison – or even order to kill them.
He has strangled civil society and independent media, ordered organizations to close, blur them as foreign agents and almost any form of protest is illegal. Even the single protests of brave Russian citizens against the law quickly ended.
The disastrous results offer a powerful reminder of the value of democracy, accountability, and independent oversight of power. The price to pay for Putin’s unbridled, unpredictable rule is clear: this conflict will bring death and massive human rights abuses.
At a time when the world should be fighting climate change, conflict zones will experience more environmental damage. Unimaginable resources will not be spent on tackling climate change, developing essential infrastructure or improving the lives of local communities but on destruction and incineration.
This also comes at a cost to Russia. Putin’s aggression will cause his country enormous diplomatic and economic harm. After pulling out some potential concessions, he threw them away. The conflict has the potential to become a protracted conflict.
Although Russia has far superior forces, it can still suffer heavy losses. Conflict could even revive NATO and encourage more countries involved – the opposite of what Putin might have been trying to achieve.
In short, conflict is not only bad for Ukraine but also for Russia. But no one can tell Putin that anymore. This is terrible news for the Russians and it is increasingly endangering the world.
Need international feedback
A response of international censorship must follow, and it must be a unified response. As Russia’s neighbors, the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) and other European nations like the UK must keep a firm common ground. Countries that have previously maintained friendly relations with Putin, such as Germany and Hungary, should join.
This means that stopping trading benefits Putin’s military machine and his inner circle. As part of this, Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, must stay offline despite the short-term pain of European gas supplies; Germany acted commendably quickly on this and must now stick to its position.
The UK, long a safe haven for the fortunes of Russian oligarchs and Putin’s allies, must finally get tough on Russian money laundry in London. Nearly not enough has been done here so far.
Putin moves to protect himself from sanctions by obtain New energy and trade deals with China on the eve of the Winter Olympics, but these will not be enough to mitigate the economic pressures caused by the united democracies.
EU countries also have a responsibility to accept and respect the rights of refugees who may be expelled from Ukraine as a result of the conflict. They must respond with empathy and compassion – something they have rarely shown up until now.
On a global level, it must be acknowledged that Russia’s invasion is a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty – ironically from a country that is quick to dismiss any international question of its human rights record. Their fear is foreign interference in the affairs of their sovereignty.
Since China’s international representatives have always pushed for a public position of respect for sovereignty and non-interference, the country faces long-term diplomatic pressure to distance itself from its ally.
Given the disparity in military strength of the two countries and Russia’s apparent determination to go to war, it should be clearly understood that this is a war of aggression – a defenseless conflict – is one of the most serious crimes. in international human rights law.
No one can buy Putin’s lame efforts to somehow position Ukraine, a country that has repeatedly stated that it does not want war, as an aggressor.
This action threatens to undermine the international order – and it does not just come from a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, but it is an act of signaling their contempt by launching an uprising. aggression even while the Security Council is in session.
There are signs that Russia has lost friends at the UN. Current Security Council member Kenya, having previously abstained in the vote on Ukraine, say it forcefully against Russia’s latest imperialist act.
The fact that Russia becomes a permanent member of the Security Council means that the body cannot do anything. This unfortunate situation only reinforces civil society’s longstanding appeals to Security Council Reform.
But at least more countries – and more of the global south – should follow Kenya’s lead and condemn Russia’s aggression, on the grounds that Putin’s trampling of international norms causes harm. dangerous for all of us. There is no way back to respect for Putin.
The important role of civil society
In the context of conflict, there is a need to monitor and collect evidence of human rights violations – with the aim of someday making perpetrators and commissioners of crimes accountable to the international justice system.
Civil society can play an important role here – not only in protecting human rights and monitoring violations, but also in building peace at the local level and providing assistance. essential humanitarian aid to those abandoned by conflict.
When the Russian propaganda machine is fully operational, it is necessary to build links of mutual understanding and dialogue between citizens of Russia and Ukraine. To do this, along with their other efforts, democratic countries should invest in local civil society, which in these bleak times is more essential than ever.
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© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service