What’s the meaning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine?
What’s happening?
The Russian invasion in Ukraine refers to both the verbal & non-verbal declaration of war in the Ukrainian lands and the armed attack of the Russian military forces on Ukrainian citizens.
Τhe European Union strongly condemns Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk and to invade Ukraine. E.U, also, condemns Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s military aggression.
That said, the European Council came to agreement with new measures targeting Belarus and Russia.
The agreed measures:
- restrict the provision of specialized financial messaging services (SWIFT) to three Belarusian banks
- prohibit transactions with the Central Bank of Belarus
- prohibit the listing and provision of services in relation to shares of Belarusian state-owned entities on EU trading venues
- significantly limit the financial inflows from Belarus to the EU
- prohibit the provision of euro denominated banknotes to Belarus
Furthermore, the Council introduced further restrictive measures targeting Russia:
- a prohibition on exporting maritime navigation goods and radio communication technology to Russia
- sanctions on 160 new individuals
The European Council condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. By its illegal military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability. The European Council emphasized the right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny.
This invasion will definitely take its toll on the EU as the energy prices will rise rapidly, considering that 40% of the natural gas and great percentage of oil used by the EU comes from Russia. The wheat prices will rise and there will cause an issue to the supply chain too: In 2021 Ukraine exported more than 33 millions of grain, much of it to Europe. Of course there will be some consequences in the aerospace industry as Russia is a main exporter of rare-earth minerals and heavy metals used in airplanes and other rare metals used in catalytic converters. Fertilizer is also greatly produced in Ukraine and Russia, so there will definitely be some disruptions to those exports that would mostly affect agriculture in Europe, therefore food prices around the world could rise as a result.
Additionally, in times like these specific measures are being considered:
- The revaluation of the EU’s pattern of expanding its “political neighborhood”. That is because the EU remains kind of ambiguous about its goals and intentions. This brutal invasion of Russia in Ukraine raises so many questions about the relations between EU and Moldova, Armenia, Georgia and of course Ukraine & Belarus. Τhe Russian military aggression against Ukraine has put all these mentioned countries in a very insecure place and disbelief.
- The acceleration of creating and establishing facilities of liquefied natural gas terminals, considering the withdrawal of BP & Shell from Russia.
- The EU support of the civil society
- The EU comes up with ways of offering defense, safety and being sustainable, considering NATO too.
8 years ago, back in 2014, Henry, Kissinger,one of the top American diplomats and political analysts that has also served as the Secretary of State (Foreign Minister) of the USA and holder of a Nobel too, prophesied dramatic changes in the political, social (etc.) world, that is to say the war that striked only recently in Ukraine. Unfortunately, all of its warnings did not come through on neither the European nor the American status quo.
He was not a proponent of the belief that Ukraine should “pick a side”, but on the contrary he believed that this country must serve as a connecting point between those sides. According to Kissinger, seeing Ukraine as a field of conflict, and causing and feeding the already existing controversy/dichotomy as to which part of the world, the West or the East (as they have formed today), Ukraine should ally with, will not, whatsoever, benefit the relations between Europe and Russia. He makes no one completely accountable about the crisis but he splits the blame between everyone, as he is referring to both:
- the inability of the West to realize that Ukraine cannot just completely detach herself from Russia and become an entirely foreign country (especially thinking that Ukraine was under Russia’s control for so many years) and
- the so brutal system of enforcement of Russia applied against the country of Ukraine.
For Ukraine, Kissinger, also mentions the lack of their ability to come to agreement with anything or anyone. He explains and somewhat justifies that history-wised, as he highlights that Ukraine was constantly under the control of some other country and became independent only 23 years ago, implying that the country is not used to making their own choices. He also advises the USA to look for ways to “befriend” the parties.
The political analyst, also, advised:
- Ukraine should not join NATO
- Ukraine should pursue a posture similar to Finland in order to establish its independence and keep good relations with the West, avoiding conflict with Russia.
- Along with its independence Ukraine must have the right to form its own government compatible with the expressed will of its people and to freely choose its economic and political associations, including with Europe.
The most bold part of his prophetic words was where he said that the overall purpose is not the complete satisfaction (meaning the satisfaction of all parties/sides), but the balanced dissatisfaction. He also warned that if they do not try to solve the issue, based on similar points that he made, the “collision” will come sooner than expected. And so it happened…
Going through the main points of the history of Ukraine is, also, another topic that cannot be left uncovered when writing and talking about the current crisis that this country faces.
- Starting from August 1991:
After one failed court effort, Ukraine declares its independence from the Soviet Union.
- December 1994:
Ukraine agrees to give intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads in exchange for: The USA, UK & Russia guarantees that they respect its independence and sovereignty according to their existing land borders.
- 2008:
Ukraine, with Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko as current president, submits an application for starting an action plan for joining NATO. The American president of the USA George Bush supports the Ukrainian entry to NATO, while , after the Russian complaints, France & Germany do not.
- March 2014:
Russia occupies and attaches the peninsula of Crimea in south Ukraine and at the same time reinforces its military presence in this area. The West condemns those actions of Moscow and Ukraine restates its intentions for joining NATO.
- January 2016:
Ukraine signs a commercial agreement with the EU and advises its citizens to avoid traveling to Russia and also forbids the importation of books from Russia. Next year Ukraine issues a decree, according to which only the Ukrainian language will be taught in its elementary schools.
- November 2018:
Russia occupies 3 ships of the Ukrainian navy and imprisons 24 sailors. Massive strikes are being organized in Ukraine.
- April 2021:
Russia sends approximately 100.000 soldiers in the Ukrainian borders, implying its military exercises. The Ukrainian president asks for Joe Biden to accelerate the entry process of Ukraine to NATO because of Russia that keeps threatening the Ukrainian borders.
- And reaching Nowadays:
The tension keeps rising, with more than 150.000 armed Russian soldiers standing on the Ukrainian Borders. The president Vladimir Putin seems unshaken, as he keeps demanding that Ukraine will not join NATO, while the West responds that they are not able to forbid something like that. The USA moves some of its military forces to Poland, Romania and Germany. Putin signs a decree that recognises the areas of Donbas. According to publicists, this action clearly implies the declaration of a war.
Sources:
https://www.enandro.gr/politiki/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdKMtaKbvYs\
By Genεsis team:
