Sir,
In the early hours of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, sending shockwaves across many nations who have been advocating restraint for global peace.
The news of Russia sending troops in two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk – after recognising them as independent regions did not go down well with many nations, who maintained that the act will escalate into a more serious conflict.
While Russia may have its own reasons to pound on Ukraine, we have to delve deep into history to understand the chronology of the bitter relationship between the two nations.
Russia, which has been a frontrunner in diplomatic dialogues as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and other groups, has often distanced itself from the West, having clearly demarcated a line between the United States of America (USA) and its allies.
Besides Russia supporting the separatist group in Ukraine, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is one of the entities which Russia is against and said to be behind the Russia-Ukraine crisis. NATO, a military alliance, came into being in 1949, with 12 member nations initially, and growing to a 30 member strong group.
The organisation mandates to work on a common security policy that if a NATO member country is invaded, this will be considered an invasion and all member countries will act against the invasion.
Ukraine’s growing links with the EU and the West and their wish to join NATO has been vehemently opposed by Putin, who has strongly objected to the move. This is precisely the reason for the attack on Ukraine.
Following the independence of Ukraine in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US has often countered Russian policies through NATO, who have agreed in principle to collectively support each other during war times.
Wanshan Lyngkhoi, Nongpoh