Russia-Ukraine War and its aftermath

‘Theoretically speaking, 'no one wins a war’ is very relevant in this age of globalisation. In a world that has been condensed into a village by the advent of technological advancement, anything that happens in any remote corner of the world can create international throw-ups and repercussions. We have a clear example right before us in COVID-19. How fast did a viral disease which appeared or made to appear in China came and knocked at everyone's door all over the world in record time! The Russian-Ukraine war should also be viewed in the same light. On February 24, 2022, at 8.30 IST, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and in no time the invasion started. When Russia unleashed its severe onslaught, Ukraine also resorted to a dynamic resistance and defence in her own way. By March 24, 2022 the war completed a full month.

According to the Human Rights Commissioner of the UN, 953 civilians were killed in a month of this war. Of these, 78 are children. 1559 people were injured. This includes 105 children. It is estimated that 15,000 Russian soldiers were killed. But Russia is yet to confess this. However, Russia also claims that 1300 Ukraine soldiers were killed. More than 35 lakh people have fled Ukraine. Considering these figures, who has won and who has lost? War does not tell us who is right, it only tells us who is left in the end. When it is declared that 15,000 soldiers were killed, it must be assumed that the dependents of those many families were also orphaned and rendered homeless. It is the same thing with the families of the martyred Ukraine soldiers. 35 lakh people have been displaced due to the loss of life and the lives of military personnel. They had to walk away from all they had gathered, gleaned and garnered. Will it be ever restored to them? Will they again feel the warmth of a hearth? The aftermath of the Russian-Ukrainian war, ironically, has no boundaries or limits. It has negatively affected the world economy and is already playing havoc with import and export as is shown by reports from all over the world.
With the imposition of sanctions on Russia, the countries that import crude oil from that country are in deep trouble. Similarly, the industrial and commercial sectors are also facing a setback as the export of many raw materials and minerals from Ukraine has come to a standstill. In addition to this, there is the suffering of foreign nationals living in Ukraine for education and employment.

While the problems that could have been solved through discussions and consensus are made worse by dictators with the use of arms and ammunition, apart from the innocent people of both nations, the whole of humanity has to pay the price.

There are many historical and geographical facts behind the seemingly unnecessary and irrational war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's desire to join the NATO alliance appears to be the primary reason that provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade this neighbouring country. In January 2021, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked Joe Biden, the American President, to include Ukraine also in the NATO alliance. However, Russia opposed the move and demanded assurance from the West that NATO does not carry out any military operations in Ukraine. NATO allies Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia share borders with Russia. Putin sees red in the deployment of NATO forces in the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and in Ukraine. Based on these concerns, Putin justifies his invasion of Ukraine. The Cold War with the United States during the Soviet era is still going strong, though in a different way. Russia, the core country which lost its member states with the fall of the Soviet Union, cannot stand America flexing its muscles in Europe with the help of those countries which were allies of Russia a few decades ago. Putin insists that the territories which were freed with the collapse of the Soviet Union should continue to be allies of Russia, the central territory in the erstwhile USSR.

Following the ouster of Viktor Djokovic, who had been loyal to Russia, from the presidency, tensions between the two countries had started mounting. For the past four years, there had been many clashes between these countries. At the same time, Ukraine is a free country today. Area wise, it is the second-largest country in Europe.

Ukraine certainly has the right to decide its own policies. But she had to exercise restraint and show more diplomacy while drafting the policies. The US and the other NATO countries, though liberally arms Ukraine which is not yet a member of NATO, have not yet got directly involved in the war. Ukraine is practically all alone on the battlefield. Politically speaking, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has failed miserably in dealing diplomatically with its embittered neighbouring country Russia which is still the world's second-largest military power. However, as the disagreement between the public and Putin is on the rise in Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky is yet to face such an intense disaccord from his people.

Peace talks began on the fifth day after the first shot was fired, but nothing has been achieved so far. The UN-led talks will continue to give us hope of a ceasefire, as the war has now become more than just shooting across the borders.

The Russia-Ukraine war has entailed many diplomatic dilemmas for nations including India. Russia, the member countries of NATO and Ukraine itself are all India’s friends. This prevented India from taking sides and necessitated a more undamaging diplomatic stand. First of all, this helped India bring back every Indian from Ukraine through an evacuating mission titled Operation Ganga. More than 20,000 Indians who were stranded in Ukraine were brought home by the Indian Government. However, it remains a painful memory that Naveen, a medical student from Karnataka, was killed in a Russin missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

(Author is chairman of World Hindu Parliament (USA).