Issues in the Russia-NATO face-off on Ukraine

As the world hurtles towards a likely military confrontation between Russia and the American-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Ukraine with the potential to annihilate much of mankind, it is pertinent for us to pause, step away from all the rhetoric and propaganda, and examine the issues at play critically.

From reports in the mainstream media, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has massed hundreds of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine and is poised to invade that country to prevent it from exercising its sovereignty in choosing to join NATO. The Americans and their British counterparts have literarily gone on overdrive in making a meal out of this threatening the Russians and Putin in particular and his officials of severe consequences should that happen. For good measure both countries have made some military deployments in men and materiel to bolster the defence and offense capabilities of Ukraine and states neighbouring Russia should the latter embark on an invasion of Ukraine.

Russia for its part has stated that it is within its right to deploy its troops within its borders and that it does not intend to invade Ukraine. But it is unmistakeable that the Russians are being clever by half and that the troop deployment is intended to send a clear message that Russia will intervene swiftly should the Ukrainians decide to join NATO.

If the whole aggro is really about Russia threatening an independent country from exercising its sovereign right to choose and pursue its defence interests then there really no need to go all this dangerous extent in handling the issue. Between Russia, NATO, Ukraine and significant other countries and institutions, there are enough platforms and precedence in form of agreements and protocols on similar situations in the past that the parties can draw to reach an agreement in which they and all of us could be happy to live with, saving the world from a potential threat of extinction should war break out in Ukraine.

In analysing the situation, we must concede that both the Russians and Ukrainians are in order per the posture they have taken on the matter. The Ukrainians do have a right to join NATO in pursuit of their defence interests. The Russians too cannot be faulted in their posture against this action of Ukraine especially given the fact this will mean the stationing of NATO troops and weapons (including nuclear one) in Ukraine in close proximity to some of its most sensitive population and military areas.

But it is the Americans and Brits whose motives for involvement in the matter are highly questionable. Did the Americans not give Mikhail Gorbachev guarantees that NATO will not expand eastwards as one of the conditions for the unification of Germany?

Don’t the Americans have the Monroe doctrine which espouses that America will never tolerate any attempt by any European power to establish military or related presence in the western hemisphere? Have not the Americans invoked the Monroe doctrine on Spain and France and Russia in the past and in our contemporary world? Did the Americans not threaten to invade Cuba in 1962 should the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev go ahead to install missiles in that Island that could threaten America which is just ninety miles away from Cuba? Did President Reagan not cite as the alleged presence of an advance party of communists as one of his reasons for the invasion of the Island of Grenada and the ouster of the government of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop in 1980?
People the world over are not convinced that the reason for American interest and involvement is to come to the aid of Ukraine in its disagreement with Russia. America’s real interest in Ukraine is to stop the Nordstream gas pipeline project through which Russia will supply gas to many countries in Europe. It is not just the cheap Russian gas that the Europeans hope to get under this deal far more favourably than the supply of the stuff from American companies; it is also about the potential that this deal will bring on and strengthen on a Russo-German economic platform which will likely grow in the coming years. Potentially this will likely create a huge partnership stretching from China through Russia and into Europe creating a massive economic bloc that will leave America in the shade.

Obviously the Americans cannot be amused by this project and what way to scuttle this budding economic partnership than to raise both a false flag and Cassus belli in Ukraine?
This is the real issue at play in the on-going sabre rattling in Ukraine. The Americans are so bent on this endeavour that they are doing their best to not just goad the Ukrainians into a confrontation with the Russians they are already preparing war scenarios in which they expect Europeans to do the heavy lifting when they instigate it. But can the world allow itself to be led by American power mongers profiteers to fight a war that will lead to mankind’s possible extinction?

From the gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam to Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria etc America has under false pretences led the world to approve wars that resulted in the needless death of millions and destruction of lives and livelihoods the world over.

On the current issue in Ukraine, the parties should be encouraged to pursue peaceful win-win situation. Because of its potential to cause Armageddon to mankind there can be no recourse to war as a means in resolving the issue. This is the message that world should tell the Russians and the Ukrainians as well as the Americans strongly and unequivocally.

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