WESTERN POWERS IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR - 2 main mistakes of western countries
Western powers have a big role in Russia-Ukraine war. First and most important fact – there is no justification in attack to sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country! There is no doubt. But in this war between Russia and Ukraine, there is a big (as a mountain) mistake in the western world, and we have to be aware of that.
Russia declared a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine for its own reasons. We can debate how good reasons are they or did Russia had the right to do that but we won’t. Many do that and if you want to read about it, you can easily find blogs and texts on that topic.
We believe that looking deeper into the reasons, there is a big mistake or mistakes made by the west that led to this scenario where the hardest blows are taken by Ukrainian people (and Russians too), but it has an impact on the whole world. Especially in underdeveloped countries. It is very hard to be in a position to influence the world, which western powers have, but there is also a big responsibility for the people of, in this case, Ukraine, but also every other country and its people, that are affected by this crysis.
Here is an alternative opinion on 2 main mistakes made by western powers that led to the escalation of the ongoing conflict:
Table of Contents
Bending the international law
This hasn’t started in 2022, or 2014. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, western countries, the EU, and NATO are trying to weaken the Russian impact in every corner of the world. And every time it is perceived as a fight for democracy although it was always a fight for the market and resources. But every time Russia wanted to get stronger and take some earlier power back it was perceived as a tremendous security risk for global security.
The bombing of Yugoslavia – 72 days of war between David and Goliath, wasn’t an attack on the territorial sovereignty of an independent and internationally recognized country, according to western media and politicians. Although the main goal was to take 20% of that country and give independence to separatists and terrorists!
With no act in international law to give them the right to do that. But there is no law in security policy and international politics. It is, and has always been – MIGHT MAKE RIGHT! Or, it will be as mighty countries decide. They decided to recognize an independence of a breakaway country with no law to back it up, and in that situation it was OK. It was, as they say even today, SUI GENERIS – or unique case.
The hypocrisy behind that words – SUI GENERIS is as big as the sun. Sui generis or the „unique case“ is a case where there is nothing in legal norms to back the decision and then they say „Yes, maybe it is slightly against the law but it is SUI GENERIS“. Can you see the comedy behind that words? It would be a comedy only if it doesn’t have an impact on so many innocent and poor people. There is no cost for the west that they will pay for their interest.
In the biggest challenge of 2022, the RUS-UKR war, „the west will fight against Russia until the last Ukrainian“. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time, and that is the main justification of Russian diplomats when talking about this „special military operation“.
The „Arab spring“ that took action in the second decade of the 2000s (after the mentioned bombing of Yugoslavia) was a series of actions, financed by the western countries to take down totalitarian regimes.
But the result wasn’t what expected. It led to chaos and regional unrest that continues to these days.
Tunisia is maybe the only country that has a positive outcome. Egypt has still a big problem with corruption (looking at the Corruption perception index it is in 117th place of 180 countries according to Transparency International) and that is also one of the better outcomes. Libia (172th’180), Yemen (174th/80), and Syria (178th/180) and that is only about corruption. There is still a pang of hunger, humanitarian catastrophe, and war going on. That shouldn’t be the legacy of western investment in democracy.
This is why the East isn’t satisfied with the western influence and attempts to spread western values.
The lack of diplomacy
Is there a logical answer to the question – Why do we need a war going on in the 21st century? Haven’t we evolved enough to understand that everything can be solved only when we respect the other side? And we keep electing ignorant people (and persons that put their interests as more important) to lead us, and the most mature answer in most of the security policy challenges we get from China, a country that doesn’t have democratic elections. Isn’t that comic?
Western powers keep pushing their own interests regarding the message they are sending, but when someone else tries to use a similar logic – it’s not by international law. Especially in the case of Ukraine.
In every possible way, they said how NATO expansion to Ukraine was a security threat to them but no one wanted to listen. Western countries pushed Ukraine into open conflict with the other side being many times stronger and better prepared. And who is suffering? Ordinary people! Ordinary people in both warring states, and most of the world.
Leading people in those western countries are not standing for the people that they are representing. If they would be in concern for their people, this would be over after a few days. Smart leaders would find a way to end this global humanitarian catastrophe, and the main question is: WHERE IS DIPLOMACY HIDING?
The answers like „Russians wouldn’t talk“ or „They don’t want the end of the conflict, only the escalation“doesn’t really stick. Everyone has his own goals but negotiations have to be conducted! As much as it is hard to sit with the other side, it is essential to do it if you want this insanity to stop! Where the responsible leaders are hiding? Those who will step out and try to take it to the next level, where no one should die!
Yes, it’s hard. But hard only in a way that you should „suck it up“ and sit at a table to stop this crisis that affects the whole world. And I am certain that, if that happens, if leaders just stop measuring their muscles and start thinking about the greater cause and peace – everything is possible.
In the end, as Eleanor Roosevelt said: Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. So why wouldn’t we start to discuss ideas instead of stubbornly sticking to the views we have?
„Be the change you want to see in the world“ – Mahatma Gandhi