The relentless war: on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

Two months after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UN Security Council finally issued a statement calling for ‘a peaceful solution’ and supported Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts in this direction. While the carefully crafted statement avoided any reference to ‘war’, ‘aggression’ or ‘conflict’, the fact remains that the 15 members of the council, including Russia, which has veto power, unanimously called for peace. But agreed, it shows that all sides are feeling the heat of the conflict. According to votes in the UN General Assembly, international public opinion is against war and the UNSC is expected to do more to end the violence. Mr Guterres issued the statement a week after talks with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow and Kyiv respectively. But his mission would be successful only if the parties concerned showed seriousness in ending the war. So far, neither exists beyond the statements. For example, Russia intensified attacks in Ukraine after the release of the UNSC statement. On Sunday, 60 people died in Luhansk. On Monday, Mr Putin marked the Soviet victory over German Nazis in his Victory Day address by claiming that Russian troops were “protecting the homeland”, indicating that the war would escalate.

Mr Putin may have expected a quick victory when he ordered a ‘special military operation’ to “demilitarize and demilitarize” Ukraine. But Ukraine’s resistance not only denied it to the Russians but also bolstered Western support. When Western financial and military aid hardened Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces, despite their incremental territorial gains in eastern and southern Ukraine, appear to be stuck on the battlefield. The standoff has raised the risk of widespread conflict. The US is now determined to “undermine Russia”, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said. Russia, with its back against the wall, is warning of a third world war with nuclear weapons. The prospect of a direct Russia-West confrontation makes it the most dangerous moment in global politics since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. If both parties still believe in rational policymaking, they should seek an offframp immediately. Russia cannot demand talks and peace while continuing to attack Ukrainian cities. Its war machine has slowed down and it already faces economic and political isolation in Europe. It is not in anyone’s interest to carry forward this struggle by putting the whole world in danger. Instead, Moscow should immediately end the attacks and support the UN Secretary General’s mission to find a peaceful solution that can address the security concerns of both Ukraine and Russia.