The Russian belligerence on Ukraine is a stand that Russia has taken in retaliation to the America-backed NATO infiltration into the European Union. Russian premiere Putin has stated this in no uncertain terms. Let us try to gain an insight into Putin’s thought process that led him to take action after many past warnings.
Over the last three decades, ever since the disintegration of the USSR, it has been loud and clear in opposing the eastward expansion of NATO. Unmindful of Putin’s requests and later warnings, Western leaders have been marching and positioning their military closer to the Russian border. For Putin, his demands are fair, just and legitimate and he is shocked by Western insolent and dismissive attitude.
Putin sees through the Western imperialist and expansionist tendencies. After the disintegration of the USSR, a cataclysmic change occurred in the balance of power –America remained the sole superpower, barring China. Alliances and allegiances became realigned.
America, after that, began to parade its dominance and power to further its interests; weakening and threatening Russia has been a significant component of this plan. America, to remain and further consolidate its position as numbers UNO, according to Putin, is set to destroy all threats and oppositions.
Illustrations of this mind-set are far too many for Putin not to recognise. The devastating military operation against Belgrade. Peaceful cities and civilians and vital infrastructure were ripped apart over several weeks. This was followed by attacks in Iraq, Libya and Syria. Prolonged terrorism in these areas, defying all humanitarian considerations, has led millions of people from North Africa and the Middle East to flee their countries to Europe. None of these operations had the UN Security Council’s sanction. The Western coalition’s justifications mainly were fabricated to suit their vested interests. The US declaration of chemical weaponry in Iraq, which proved false, is a case in point.
International Law, thus, has been broken deliberately, consciously and continuously by the Western Coalition. Besides, it has also not kept up its promises to not expand eastwards.
After the formation of Russia, it adopted a policy of cooperation and friendship with the US and its allies. However, the West only supported gangs of mercenaries and fuelled separatism among the various southern states of the Russian Federation. The US and its allies tried to systematically erase the traditional cultural values of the conditions of the Russian Federation and tried to impose Western values that Russia described as degenerative.
As recently as December 2021, Russia had sought to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of European security and NATO’s non-expansion. But the US is continuing with its infiltration in east Europe without a care for the interests of other nations, but has also been highly respectful towards all post-USSR states, no matter how small they are, and notwithstanding that Russia was the single most powerful of such states. An illustration of Russia’s respect for the political sovereignty of these states and its support can be recognised in Russian support to ..quell civil unrest in Kazakhstan in January this year.
Russia does not want to repeat the mistake it made during the Second World War. Having tried to stall the outbreak of war by refraining from making military preparations that would otherwise instigate the aggressor, Russia paid a heavy price. Although it won the battle, it lost strategic geographical territories and, more importantly, millions of lives. In the present circumstance, Russia does not want to risk responding too late to ensure the security of its territories and people. Hence, Putin perhaps decided to put forth a strong defence, showing the world, the Western world, in particular, that meddling with its security would evoke nothing less than war. Russia has decided to take this step, despite the repercussions on its economy. Putin is realistic and has an explicit estimation and understanding of the impact of taking on America, which is well stocked not just militarily but also monetarily and technologically.
– The writer is an Aerospace and Defence Analyst & Director ADD Engineering Components (India) Pvt Ltd (An Indo- German Company). The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
-The author is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
