The possible peace would require Russia’s express resignation to expand as an empire against Ukraine and the rest of the Soviet orbit.
This Friday marks one year since Putin launched an invasion war against Ukraine under the euphemism of “special military operation”. The plot view denied the existence of the attacked nation. The claim to destroy the Zelensky government that surrounded Kiev was unsuccessful. Surprising resistance gave way to counter-attacks that exposed the Kremlin’s weaknesses. The transfer of the Russian offensive to the Western economy due to the increase in energy costs and the cut-off of supplies has not brought the desired division even in developed societies. The European Union appears to be in a position to weather the recession, while Russia pretends to have a GDP lower than Spain’s and prepares to invade more Ukrainian territories as if starting the war from scratch. Ukraine’s allies are called upon to bolster its defense with the material and intelligence assets that can prevent this advance, while Putin is unlikely to lower the EU and NATO’s level of alarm in his address to the State Duma on Tuesday. There is a risk that a conflict that actually dates back to 2014 and the illegal Russian annexation of Crimea will become chronic.
A year ago, Putin’s aggression led to an absolutely uneven clash that suggested an immediate outcome. The military’s ability to respond, much more than desperate heroism, derailed their calculations. But it would not be an exaggeration to assume that as many Ukrainian fighters as Russian fighters were killed. And thousands and thousands of unarmed civilians continue to be killed, with at least 50,000 lives left. The Ukrainian economy has fallen by more than 30%, seven million people have left the country and many others have been forced to move within its borders. According to UNHCR, 17.7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.
Despite the ravages of war, Ukraine is not a failed state, but an unwavering collective will in its European vocation. The possible peace would require Russia’s express resignation to expand as an empire against Ukraine and the rest of the Soviet orbit. Zelensky stated this week that he will not surrender by giving up territory in exchange for a ceasefire that encourages further aggression. Moreover, it is impossible to turn the page on what happened this year without attributing war crimes and crimes against humanity to those who today are still obsessed with annexing Ukraine to wipe out Europe.
Source: La Verdad
I am George Kunkel, an author working for Today Times Live. I specialize in opinion pieces and cover stories that are both informative and thought-provoking – helping to shape public discourse on key issues. My work is regularly featured across the network’s many platforms, including print media and social media.
