Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine & Its Impact on the World
Background:
- Russia had one dependable neighbour, six NATO enemies, and two ambiguously oriented nations on its historically weak western front, while Ukraine’s relations with the European Union (EU) and NATO were a constant source of discord.
- After the Putin-Biden meeting in Geneva in the middle of 2021, there were high hopes for a detente as a result of the intense interactions between NATO members and Russia.
- However, Russian President Vladimir Putin chose invasion over negotiation, disregarding the depleted and inexperienced state of his armed forces, the fact that Ukraine has the largest military in Europe.
Irregularities in Western Sanctions:
- NATO armament, training, communications, satellite and human intelligence, reconnaissance, information processing systems, and complete control over the world media have all greatly aided Ukraine.
- The World Bank rushed $4.5 billion to Ukraine while the International Monetary Fund came up with $1.4 billion, yet it takes a long time to aid war-torn countries like Yemen and Afghanistan.
- The West is unaware of how contradictory its sanctions are. For instance, the US spent a lot of time and energy convincing India and others to boycott oil from Iran and Venezuela, only to try and reintroduce those shipments after its opposition moved to Russia.
What is the impact?
- The resistance sparked by the West will persist, making living in the absorbed enclaves challenging in a country destroyed by Russia.
- The goal of Mr. Putin to guarantee Russia’s security will continue to be illusive. In the same way that prolonged American involvement in Afghanistan suited its enemies, the West will benefit if the war carries on. Mr. Putin will face pressure from ultra-nationalists and domestic anti-war demonstrators, which will harm his reputation both abroad and at home.
- Thus, even a Russian face-saving outcome can turn out to be ineffective.
Takeaways For India & China:
- China is in a difficult situation as a result of the Russian invasion; Beijing may choose to support Russia or recruit it as a junior partner, even though doing so would put China in conflict with its two main trading partners, the US and the EU.
- China has leverage and a self-interest in influencing the conflict’s conclusion because it is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council who is not physically engaged in the fighting, taking into account the potential political and strategic repercussions for its own future.
- However, it has no background or prior mediation or peacemaking expertise.
- India which is trying to balance between the two blocs of the world is also finding it hard to tackle the situation.
Source The Hindu
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