Vladimir Putin : Past and Present
KAKALI DAS
Putin!
After waging a war against Ukraine, people are divided over Putin’s invasion – on the one hand, they call him an anti-NATO hero against western influence, and on the other hand, some considering calling him a war criminal.
Let’s explore that in detail by analysing Putin’s past and recent actions in Ukraine.
Putin has tried to justify war, to restore Russian glory. They claim to be helping Ukraine by denazification. Whereas, the president of Ukraine is Jewish, he lost his family members in holocaust. They also said that this an internal matter of former soviet states. Moreover, Russia has a friend in China.
Putin knows well how to make a fool of the international community.
The most solid argument of Russia is anti-NATO. NATO is a powerful defence alliance. Russia is cautious of NATO’s reach in Europe. Many claim that the USA is in fact the real aggressor, and Ukraine happened to get in the middle of it. Now, let’s assume the very fact that ‘NATO is a defence alliance to protect member state and so they don’t attack’ is not entirely true.
Because after the disintegration of USSR, NATO could have been discontinued, but it kept growing. And there isn’t an ounce of doubt that the USA uses NATO as a tool of influence. The USSR also used to act in a similar way, by Warsaw Pact. States under Warsaw Pact were under USSR influence.
Today, too, Russia has its impact intact. Kindly read about Syria and Belarus, and how these countries drag support from Russia, and let the country grab a foothold and influence the rest of the world. International power games are in continuation in Venezuela too, which is a prop up government and under the indirect Russian control set up.
The USA tried playing a similar game in Venezuela, attempted to coup in 2019, but failed. Venezuela, as a result, has cut US ties citing its support for coup attempt.
Russia is allying with the right wing parties everywhere. Russian influence grows in the middle east and North Africa too. Apart from Russia and the USA, China too is acting in a similar fashion – increasing dominance, maritime power, and holding the tiny islands. The Belt and Road initiative is an example of China’s increasing influence.
So, power games are a part of international politics. The question here is – Is blaming NATO right?
What are the demands of Putin?
- Ukraine never joins NATO
- NATO to remove its forces and military infrastructure from member states that joined the alliance post 1997.
- NATO not to deploy “strike weapons” near Russia’s borders i.e., Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Baltics.
Basically, Putin wants control over European state ties. Is this acceptable? Post these demands by Russia, defence budget has been increased by Germany now.
Suppose, NATO forces are removed from operating in post 1997 NATO states. These small countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and others will then be at immense risk from Russia. These countries like Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria will never want to put their national security in danger.
Putin would have won if –
- President Zelensky had fled, and Ukraine crumbled down.
- ‘Russian Speaking’ Ukrainians had welcomed Russia.
- The independent areas like Donetsk, Luhansk had actively helped Russia end this war.
If all that had happened, Putin would have an advantage and emerge as a powerful liberator. Ukraine would have become like Belarus, puppet of Russia. But that did not happen, and the situation is escalating even more.
International condemnation by EU and UN’s general assembly followed – unprecedented 11th emergency session in the history after the year 1950. 141 nations voted against Russia. 5 supported and 35 abstained, including India.
Clear demands of UN for Russia
- The resolution demanded that Russia immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state.
- The resolution, condemning the February 24 declaration by Russia of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, demanded that Moscow “immediately, completely, and unconditionally” withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
Putin can win today too if he can control his ego. All he has to do is sign an agreement saying that Ukraine will not join NATO. But he won’t, as his style of working is not calm and peace-seeking as history has ever witnessed. He won’t stop until he can take over the entire Ukraine, irrespective of the consequences Russia or Russians, or the foreign citizens like Naveen face.
Is Putin a War Criminal?
International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to begin investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. UK PM Boris Johnson has mentioned of Putin’s war crimes. 39 states parties are urging for an investigation. The presidency of ICC has been notified, already proceedings have started into active investigation into the situation if Putin has committed war crimes.
What is a war crime?
War crime is an act carried out during the conduct of the war that violates accepted international rules of war. Individual criminal responsibility for actions by the combatants, such as:
- intentionally killing civilians or,
- intentionally killing prisoners of war,
- torture, taking hostages,
- unnecessarily destroying civilian property,
- wartime sexual violence, pillaging,
- the conscription of children in the military,
- committing genocide or ethnic cleansing
It is the most serious, abominable crime. So, has it been done in Ukraine? Glimpses of war crimes have been surfacing on the internet and media in the last few days. Innocent citizens are losing life. Prohibited weapons are allegedly (proof awaited) used by Russia like cluster bomb, thermobaric weapon. Thermobaric ammunition is such a deadly ammunition which ignites the fuel in air which vaporises everything in sight. In a conventional sense, it is no less than a nuclear bomb. Schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure have been attacked in Ukraine. UN said: 227 civilians killed, 525 injured in Ukraine since Russian invasion. “More than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians killed during Russian invasion” – said Ukrainian emergency service. Russia is clearly aiming for the orphanages, hospitals, kindergartens, which falls under war crimes.
Putin’s dark history
In order to understand how Putin can commit war crimes, let’s dive into the dark abyss of history –
- Putin was the Prime Minister during the 2nd Chechen war that shows the brutality against humanity. Everything in sight was destroyed. “Make it a desert and call it peace” seemed to be the moto. “Capital Grozny is the most destroyed city on the planet” – UN. As many as 250,000 civilians were killed in the combined Chechen wars, along with many thousands more combatants on both sides. Reports of rape, arson, and other crimes by Russian soldiers were widespread. This is called as “without limits warfare”.
- Syria war is an another example. Russia used cluster bomb that spreads over an entire area like a carpet. At that time, in 2015, Putin was the President. It was an air battle. White helmet workers or hospital workers too were brutally massacred. People are afraid this would transpire in Ukraine too.
So, Putin’s history is not glorious. He can repeat it in Ukraine, without mercy.
Can Putin be prosecuted?
Merely calling him a war criminal won’t result to anything. It has to be legally proved. Russia is not a part of ICC, so no damage there, but if he is declared a war criminal, he would be banned from visiting the ICC member countries. And, public opinion will be completely against Putin thereafter.
What is it next?
However, it’s clear that Ukraine did not crumble despite Russian attempt. Russian forces had no clear instructions and lack support now. Reinforcements are on the way. Financial penalty arrived swiftly this time; clearly a good work by the international community.
Now, experts are concerned whether Ukraine will have the same fate as Syria and Chechnya. Kremlin is switching between diplomacy and war. They will restock, say talks failed and restart.
Moreover, Putin has started nuclear signalling just to keep people engrossed in fear, by flexing nuclear muscle. International community has to act further to stop this desperate leader, and understand to what an extent he can go to win a war. Ukrainians and Russians both will suffer. With international sanctions, will enter inflation. This is not a good sign for future.
Putin has made his mark in history as a great war villain. His plan to restore USSR glory has failed, but a war criminal he might anyway become. This is no longer anti-NATO as earlier justified by many. At current rate, it is clear that this is Putin’s war.
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