Arms Flow Into Ukraine Will Only Prolong The War – OpEd

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Pumping arms into Ukraine by the west is only going to prolong this conflict which at the first place was avoidable. There is no doubt that Ukraine is fighting a battle for their just survival. The Ukraine War in the active combat zones has been a devastating war between Russia and Ukraine producing an increasingly severe humanitarian crisis that includes massive civilian displacement of refugee movements away from embattled cities into the neighbouring countries. The US led NATO allies, their partners and the Western media are aiming to gain the public support for their actions against Russia which are playing on the playfields of Ukraine. “Having pushed Ukraine into war, the US does not know how to save it. Having started it, Russia does not know where to end it.”

Supporting Ukraine was and  is fine to do but the manner in which it is being done and President Zelensky accepting is not at all clear. Is President Zelensky thinking of preserving Ukraine as a nation or get certain parts and cities erased from the soil by continuing to request the world for more and more arms to prolong the war. His spirit to stand up bravely along with his citizens to the larger Russian army has been well recognized and appreciated by the world. Now it’s time to talk and protect his country from any further devastation by bringing an early end to the war.

President Zelensky’s has got trapped into west’s foolhardy approach of supporting Ukraine’s war aim of defeating the aggressor by pumping arms  will prolong the war with ‘No Winners’. Ukraine has got caught between the superpowers.The longer this war continues, the more Ukrainians will flee their homeland, more the devastation to their homes, cities, industry, economy and war crimes of the Bucha type will continue. If Russia continues to suffer more failures, then more of Ukraine will be devastated into ruins as retaliations and millions more would have died. President Zelensky’s has now to take the call listening to his inner self and NOT to the US,NATO or their partners who are interested in prolonging the war or further pushing Russia into the corner with further sanctions. Zelensky need to ask the West that “What is the West doing to stop the war?” 

No signals to De-Escalate or Stop but Instigate (28 April)

  • NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said “NATO is ready to support Ukraine for years in the war against Russia with modern Western military equipment  and weapons.” We need to be prepared for the long term…There is absolutely the possibility that this war will drag on and last for months and years.” 
  • NATO Secretary-General said that Finland and Sweden would be embraced with open arms should they decide to join the 30-nation military organization and could become members quite quickly.
  • President Joe Biden will ask Congress for $33 billion to support Ukraine funding for its war against Russia. Further tighten sanctions.
  • Russia warned the West that there would be a tough military response to any further attack on Russian territory, accusing the US and its key allies by openly inciting Ukraine to assault Russia.
  • A Ukrainian presidential aide said that the world recognises that his country has the right to defend itself by carrying out attacks on Russian military bases and warehouses.
  • Russia tells UK: giving Ukraine heavy weapons threatens European security
  • Russia’s foreign spy chief accused the US and Poland of plotting to gain a sphere of influence in Ukraine. The war could end with forced partition of Ukraine between the West and Russia.

The only cooling statement came from China “No one wants to see the outbreak of a 3rd World War breaking out following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. We hope that relevant parties can keep cool-headed and exercise restraint, prevent escalation of tension, realise peace as soon as possible and avoid inflicting a heavier price on Europe and the world.” 

Lessons from Mahabharata

In order to seek India’s intervention to de-escalate the turmoil, Ukrainian Ambassador Igor Polikha urged the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene citing Mahabharata to pursue diplomacy with President Putin and help Ukraine get out of this devastating situation. 

Dr Jaishankar, India’s external affairs minister cites an example from the Mahabharata in his book , to explain how suicidal small powers behave. King Susarma of the Trigarta kingdom was once humiliated by Arjuna. The Trigarta warriors made the single instance of humiliation their driving force, so much so that, they focused all their energy on exacting revenge, even at the cost of self-annihilation. In the war, they challenged Arjuna to a fight to the death. Though Arjuna did triumph in that battle, it came at a great cost. Zelensky appears to be in the same situation and he needs to be encouraged by true friend “to come out of their singular driving force that through more arms from the west Ukraine can defeat Russia!”

If western leaders think that their arms flow to Ukraine will bring about a Ukrainian military victory, then they are being foolish. For Ukraine’s sake, the world need to stop Putin somehow before Ukraine as a country is totally ruined. Zelensky has to shed his ego for the future of Ukrainians and the UN Chief need to play the role of a genuine strong ‘Peace Maker’ as a neutral umpire without being influenced by the US.

Patial RC

Patial RC is a retired Infantry officer of the Indian Army and possesses unique experience of serving in active CI Ops across the country and in Sri Lanka. Patial RC is a regular writer on military and travel matters in military professional journals. The veteran is a keen mountaineer and a trekker.

6 thoughts on “Arms Flow Into Ukraine Will Only Prolong The War – OpEd

  • May 1, 2022 at 7:04 am
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    You’re making the mistake of thinking this war was avoidable. Unfortunately, Putin regards Ukraine as a part of Russia, and this invasion has been in planning for a long time. The only outcome for Putin is the conquest of the Ukraine, turning it into a colony once more, in conjunction with his “denazification” and “demiliterization.” We have seen examples of Russia’s denazification in Bucha, with the torture, rape, and mass murder of Civilians, and the ongoing murders of surrendered Ukrainian soldiers. As with Nazi Germany in WW2, there can be no surrender to evil on this scale, for the only result of surrender is the extinction of the Ukrainian people, language and culture. All you have to do is listen to the insanity of Russian TV and news to understand this.

    Let me put it another way. India as an independent country is farcial. You have no national language or culture, your only common language is english, and honestly, you were better of as part of the British Empire, ruled by the British. Just give up now. We can negotiate a satisfactory outcome which will recognize reality, that you should never have gained independance, and should have remained a British colony.

    Insulted?

    Then why would you insult Ukraine by advocating returning Ukraine, a country whch suffered through the Russian-inflicted holodomor, where as many Ukrainians were killed through a genocidal campaign of mass murder as Jews were killed by the Nazis, to Russia as a colony, tosuffer through another genocide. That’s as evil and ascompletely beyond the pale as saying Jews should return to being ruled by Nazi Germany.

    You’recompletely wrong. The only solution is to arm Ukraine sufficiently to annihilate the Russian invaders and defeat Russia, both militarily and economially, and to denazify and demiliterize and balkanize Russia, removing this insane threat to world peace and stability. Anything less is pandering to the evil that is Putin and his Russian Nazism. USA and Western Europe can well afford this, and Ukraine Army will do the job.

    Reply
    • May 2, 2022 at 9:26 am
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      Personally I think that a sovereign nation has all the right and powers to defend its sovereignty.
      The author of the main article has brought about a reasoned perspective and as some portions are attributed to Mahabharata, which is a strategic perspective, very few across the world will align to the incisive analytics.
      Anyway, the best this author writes to quote, “ Having pushed Ukraine into war, the US does not know how to save it. Having started it, Russia does not know where to end it…” this has relevance regardless of one’s identity.
      Coming to comment on India, by the respondent, I feel it is unfounded and rather ill-informed.
      Historically, India with challenges of-course, has survived, sustained and is in glorious cultural diversity experiential sovereign status, which again is incomprehensible to ones who look at the grand ocean through a goblet or pinhole. The stand by India on this matter is well founded and specifically distinct. Stop this war and decide differences across the table with leadership and able guidance. What is inappropriate about this, I fail to understand. India is what it is, like it, dislike it, your wisdom, but India cannot be ignored. History shows that thieves do come from world over, in garb of business or raiders, trade or terrorism, India does resolve its position singularly and becomes a unique identity for the world leaders to throng to this nation’s platform to parley with workforce, technology and trade, commerce and economics.
      This having said, I respect the courage of Ukrainians. I differ on diplomatic and negotiating positions and feel that uncannily this war has been thrust upon Ukraine and it must stop, as this war has now become leadership individualistic, rather than national policy and sovereignty principle and world peace.
      Progress is progress only when it is continuous, consistent and qualitative. The west apparently appears to have dumped this in name of development and bifocal approach to committed positioning.
      Best to all and may peace and wisdom prevail.

      Reply
  • May 1, 2022 at 7:22 am
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    Is your suggestion in this case to lay down and die?

    Granted that Ukraine is a lesser military power but that doesn’t give Russia the right to roll over them.

    The world should stand up and bleed Russia dry.

    As an Indian, I’m ashamed at the role we’re playing in this battle

    Reply
  • May 1, 2022 at 9:54 am
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    This article is poor attempt at the defence of India’s failure to act in an appropriate manner. If India and China had voiced their disapproval of Russias invasion of Ukraine and not tried to profit therefrom the writing would have been on the wall for Putin. It is these ‘non aligned countries’’ that are giving Putin wiggle room. Putin should have been told that he would be alone in this war. The west may be seeking to profit militarily but if the whole world has expressed its outrage at this criminal act by Russia then all would have quickly come to an end. What other choice does Zelenski have so as to not see his country disappear or be carved up and his citizens murdered and forcefully displaced. Wicked! The best moral option for you now is write an article pressuring India to stop profiteering from cheap Russian oil and to desist with their support for Russia.

    Reply
    • May 2, 2022 at 5:51 am
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      India has done exactly what the West is doing—– safeguarding its own interests. Data available clearly indicates that despite sermonizing on imposing oil import sanctions, the US and EU nations have been importing oil from Russia. This war suits the vested interests of the West- use Ukraine as a proxy to fight Russia and that’s why the more this war prolongs the better it is for them. The only loser is Ukraine!

      Reply
  • May 2, 2022 at 5:35 am
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    India stands for Peace and Tranquility and does not believe in creating conflicts is the answer to counter views reflected on India’s stand through comments. Article in no way had reflected India’s point of view. Indian official stand on the Ukraine conflict :
    India once again called for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and resolution of the conflict through dialogue just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a tour of Germany, Denmark and France.
    “Our position on Ukraine has been clear. First, there should be a cessation of hostilities and second, a solution must be found through dialogue and diplomacy,” said the newly appointed Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra at the PM’s pre-departure briefing.
    Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is One Family! “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, possibly one of the most famous lines emerging from Sanskrit literature. This phrase is another demonstration of the all-inclusive attitude that our Indian tradition has. Unity in diversity is something that we have been practicing for thousands of years.

    Reply

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