Hello friends,
I have just seen a podcast by Simon Smith. It is a presentation on the thesis “Territorial concessions by Ukraine would simply reward Russian crimes and aggressions”.
There are some points in it that need to be countered. Smith made the point that there is not really a territorial dispute here. I find this disingenuous. There have been longstanding disputes in the Donbas between opposing groups there. Pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian groups have been at loggerheads there for some time. It was precisely to settle these disputes that the Minsk agreements attempted to resolve.
There has been a longstanding Russian influence in Ukraine. Several Russian presidents themselves have had roots in Ukraine. President Brezhnev was born there. Presidents Khrushchev and Gorbachev have ancestral roots there. The Russian language is spoken in parts of Ukraine. It is the main language in Crimea.
However, all of these pro-Russian links were shattered when Putin’s military invaded Ukraine. Russia’s subsequent brutal destruction of Ukraine has changed the geo-political structure of the region.
The fear is that the land seized by Russia will reward Russia, and it could thus occur again. However, the Russian invasion has been stopped in it tracks. When the Russian forces turned north from the Donbas towards Kyiv they were stopped by the determined Ukrainian resistance at Bucha. A line is now being drawn through Bakhmut and Kherson.
There are lots of differences with the Russian invasion of Finland (in 1945), but that war has shown that determined resistance can stop Russian expansion and a peace agreement can be achieved. Finland now carefully guards its border with Russia (the longest of any neighbouring country with Russia). Finland is now a prosperous democratic country. Russia was unusually quiet when Finland joined NATO. Russia has learned a lesson in Finland. The same can happen in Ukraine.
There is a powerful reason why this war must end ASAP. While it is going on, the environmental crisis is increasing. Global heat waves and wildfires are raging. This war in Ukraine (and in fact all wars) are a major factor in worsening the world’s environmental pollution which is destroying our planet. If we do not address the environmental crisis, then a disastrous future awaits us all. This environmental crisis will eventually swamp all our present problems, including the problem of this war.
Two opposing sides with absolutist demands, creates a scenario for endless war. It endangers everybody. Both sides here have nuclear weapons. One false move could result in a nuclear disaster. This war in the heart of Europe has the potential to expand into a WW III.
Some kind of armistice/peace agreement needs to be achieved ASAP. Some key players have been advocating this. For example, general Mark Milley, chairman of the US joint chiefs has spoken of the possibility of beginning peace negotiations with Russia. Countries like France, Turkey and Saudi Arabia , as well as the African Union have put forth peace proposals.
The end of this war can be achieved. It will involve compromises on both sides. A just peace is possible. Russia will learn never to do this again. Ukraine can then begin to rebuild its war-ravaged country.
Finally, for an ongoing, balanced coverage of this war please look into www.aljazeera.com . Aljazeera has correspondents throughout Ukraine and in Moscow, Russia. They regularly present both sides of this conflict.
All the best to you all, as we continue this struggle,
Rebellious Seeker, Ottawa, 11 August 2023
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