The U.S. is throwing up a warlike situation across eastern Europe on pretext of saving Ukraine from Russian invasion. The heightening of tensions on this side of the hemisphere, is over and above the warlike atmosphere it has installed in Asia, to target China. One reason for American stunts is its fear of losing the 3-decade-old title of being the single most-mighty power on globe. Another of U.S. agenda involves rejuvenating sale of its war weapons. The ongoings also point to U.S. search for new allies now that old partners have lost much of their trust.
Ukraine, that fell apart from old Soviet Union in 1991, is the second largest country in Europe after Russia. The NATO expansion violates U.S. assurance to Soviet leadership in days when socialist regime was sabotaged in Eastern Europe. Although Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin, puppeted by U.S., did not mind those violations, the scenario changed once successor Vladimir Putin’s took reins of the coutnry.
Putin always perceived fall of Soviet Union as the biggest disaster of the 20th century. Starting 2007, Putin began to demand assurance against threats posed to Russia by western allies especially the U.S. bloc. However, that lobby consistently remained disdainful of his demands. In the NATO summit of 2008 held in Bucharest there was total disregard to Russian concerns and plan became announced for buildup US-led military forces along Russian borders. The final straw came when it announced conferring NATO membership on Ukraine and Georgia.
In 2008, Russia dealt a raw deal to then Georgian president, by backing independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In 2014, Russia retrieved Crimea and merged it back into its territory. In a referendum held in Crimea, 94 percent of the population supported the merger.
For seven years now, there is conflict between army and pro-Russian forces In Ukraine’s eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk. More than 10,000 people have so far lost their lives.
The situation now should be viewed against the above backdrop. Pointing to Russian military buildup on borders, U.S. claims Russia is preparing to annex Ukraine. Russia has denied the interpretation.
Russia issued a draft proposal to both U.S and NATO in December of last year. U.S. responded with rejection of propositions contained including removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe and halt of NATO expansion toward Russia.
Talks held last year in Brussels and Russia too failed to make headway. Some of America’s steadfast allies themselves are exasperated with U.S. stand. If U.S. wishes to mount more nuclear warheads in Europe, it must now find newer allies. The existing ones are in no mood to comply.
In a bid to added gravity to the warlike atmosphere, 10 countries backed the motion seeking UN Security Council permission to discuss the topic on Ukraine. China sided with Russia and opposed the move. And, although India did not support the motion, it remained neutral by keeping away.
Russia accused U.S. of whipping up hysterics about a potential invasion of Ukraine using “meghaphone conspiracy”. Several European countries that rely on Russian oil too are not keen on NATO expansion. Although U.S. would not want a full-fledged face-off with Russia at this point, maintaining a warlike semblance is much of a need for U.S.
