Horrors of war are still pervading in Ukraine. Leftover population may be heaving a much called for sigh of relief in the northern, western and some southern parts but war is going on in full swing in Donbas region( Donetsk and Luhansk). Relentless attacks are perpetrating on two cities of Sloviansk and Sievierodonesk and nearby villages, still in Ukrainean hands.
2) Its will be four months soon since Russia began its unilateral offensive against Ukraine to get rid of what it called drug addicts and pro- Nazi elements.
President Putin has further stated in St. Petersburg recently that their action was necessary to protect people in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow based rebels and to ensure Russia’s own security. He has also expressed confidence that their economy will overcome ‘reckless and insane’ sanctions imposed by the West.
Arms Inflow Into Ukraine
3) If one looks at the despatch of arms and ammunition into the disturbed and vastly devastated country, its pouring in without any break from USA, U.K. and twenty countries of Europe as per reports culled out from internet.
While USA and Poland are already members of ‘Billionnaire club’, U.K., Canada, France, Denmark, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Czech Republic have sent arms and equipment totaling $ 1748.4 millions so far. Whereas cost of arms & ammunition supplied by initially reluctant Turkey, Germany, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, Belgium, Netherland, Greece and Italy has not been ascertained as yet.
4) USA has also agreed to supply advance rocket launch systems to turn the tide of war in favour of Ukraine in the Eastern part. Despite it, Ukraine feels it is out gunned and therefore, more heavy weapons would be needed.
Options For Ukraine
5) Ukraine is yet to realize that USA is serving its own vested interests against Russia by means of their continued arms supply.
Unlike Afghanistan ,not a single soldier of NATO members has been put in action ,though a reserve force has been kept ready.It is high time the flamboyant President of Ukraine realized that sustaining war for some more time may be against the interest of his country and people as a whole.
There should be no harm in agreeing for a cease fire now as Ukraine is on the verge of getting membership of the European Union.
Latest Psychological Support of West Europe leaders
6) As far as psychological support is concerned, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania have displayed their solidarity by a joint visit to Kyiv and Irpin on 16th June. Air raid sirens blared in Ukraine’s capital as their visit got underway.
It was followed by the second visit to Ukraine by the Britain’s P.M. Although latter did not specify quantum of further aid, he did indicate that U.K. would lead a program that could train up to ten thousand Ukrainean soldiers ‘every 120 days’ in an unspecified location outside their country.
A Leaf From History: Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”
7) Before summing up comment on this phase of continuous support managed by Ukraine against Russia ,it may not be inappropriate to say a few words about Leo Tolstoy, who fought in a war as a 26 year old prior to getting into the shoes of a writer and a novelist.
I have not read Leo Tolstoy’s magnum opus “War and Peace” pertaining to French invasion of Russia in 1812 but have read ABOUT it many a time.Famous for its realism, real atrocities of war, spiritualism and family happiness, it had 580 characters occupying 1000 pages.It is one of the most famous novels of all times.
8) Apart from his own personal experiences of Crimean War as a Second Lieutenant in an Artillery regiment ,Tolstoy had visited many battlefields, read books on Napoleonic wars( also with Tzar Alexander I) to describe some real historical events. His wife Sofya is supposed to have
played a major role, having copied several drafts, ALL BY HAND.
Basically a self taught person of a wealthy noble family , Tolstoy had no interest in formal education and got disenchanted with Russian orthodox Church fairly early. Having dealt with some of real atrocities of war in his” Siege of Sevastopol” during the months of December, May and August(1854-55), his’ War and Peace’ took birth in 1867.
9) After many notable works, including Anna Karenina(1878) and The Death of Ivan Ilyich(1886),he went on to depict his ideas on Non Violent Resistance in “The Kingdom of God is Within You”(1894) which influenced Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the one hand and Martin Luther King, Junior, on the other. Since Zelensky himself had highlighted corrupt practices of his predecessor, this book may give him correct perspective.
10) When so many conflict zones have tilted towards peace, why not Russia and Ukraine now put an end to their misunderstandings and hostilities. If President Zelensky realizes the American vested interest even now, it may be late than never.
The vast damage being suffered by its economy, polity, trade, education, health, tourism, service sector etc needs to be undone at once.
If peace does not return soon many more pieces( provinces) of Ukraine may be separated from each other. Conscience, rationality and compassion must prevail once an area has been declared free from mines and unwanted human remains.
About the Author : Dr. Aaloc Srivastav, Ex CS , Sikkim is a Senior Retd Bureaucrat and passionate about writing on his favourite subjects . The views shared by the author are his personal.
