World should come forward to end Russia-Ukraine war to avoid catastrophe

The Russo-Africa Forum is trying to save mankind from the catastrophe that is happening due to the Russo-Ukraine war, today, when the role of the United Nations in stopping this war is of no importance, in such a situation, this war The whole world should come forward to stop it. Everyone should make their own efforts. This war which has been going on for one and a half years can come under the attack of nuclear attack at any time. In this war, after Hiroshima-Nagasaki, the story of the great destruction of mankind can be written again. Its special thing will be that this time the great destruction will be many times heavier than Hiroshima Nagasaki, because now the capacity of atomic bombs is much more than before.

At the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, it seemed that the fight was one-sided. Ukraine will not be able to stand in front of Russia, but it happened opposite to the thought. Even after a year and a half, Ukraine is standing firmly in front of Russia. There are reports that Ukraine is now on the rise. Ukraine taking lead over Russia is a very dangerous sign. Seeing itself being defeated, Russia will never fail to use nuclear weapons for the sake of its honor and pride, and if this happens, there can be a great destruction of mankind.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, which was part of Ukraine. Even before this, there was a lot of tension between Russia and Ukraine regarding this area. This is because the Soviet Union handed over this Crimean region to Ukraine as a gift. In the year 2015, France and Germany mediated a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. After the agreement between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine started improving its international relations with the western countries, it was against the will of Russia. Russia did not want Ukraine to have good relations with any western country, Ukraine wanted it to join the group of NATO countries. Ukraine is a country adjacent to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin was against it. They did not want the influx of NATO forces to reach their limits. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had to decide on war when Ukraine did not agree.

Not only the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, the whole world believed that it was not possible for Ukraine to compete with Russia, but Ukraine continued to fight the war even after heavy losses. Initially some part of it went under the occupation of Russia. Russia-Ukraine conflict is affecting the common people of Ukraine the most. The reason for this is that the war is taking place on the land of Ukraine. Due to this war, according to an estimate, more than 8000 common people have died in Ukraine. More than 8 million people left Ukraine while some 14 million were displaced. So far, more than one lakh 45 thousand soldiers of Russia have died in this war, while Ukraine has also lost the lives of one lakh of its soldiers. About $138 billion worth of infrastructure in Ukraine has been completely destroyed due to the war. More than 1,100 hospitals and 1,49,300 residential buildings have been damaged in Ukraine. According to Oleg Ustenko, Economic Advisor to the Ukrainian President, Ukraine has suffered a loss of one trillion dollars (about eight lakh crore rupees) due to the war. On the other hand, Russia has so far spent about 8,000 billion rupees in the war. On the other hand, America and Europe together have spent 12,520 billion rupees in the war in the name of helping Ukraine. Including factors such as increased food and fuel prices, disrupted supply chains, inflation and unemployment, the war has cost the world around Rs 24 lakh crore ($3 trillion).

NATO countries have not directly participated in this war but they are helping Ukraine militarily. To increase the enthusiasm of Ukraine, heads of states of some countries including America also visited Ukraine. Ukraine did not promise any kind of military assistance in the war, but increased the supply of military weapons. Ukraine is standing in front of Russia on the strength of these weapons. Recently, the US Defense Ministry Pentagon handed over cluster bombs to Ukraine. He has also said that if Ukraine used this weapon against Russia, he too would give a befitting reply. Actually cluster bomb is a very dangerous weapon. It is a group of many small bombs, which are kept inside a shell. This bomb can be fired from both ground or air. This bomb is used to eliminate a large area at once. When a cluster bomb is fired it detonates before reaching the ground. After this, the bombs inside it scatter at different places and destroy that entire area. When a cluster bomb is fired, 10 to 40 percent of the small bombs present in it do not explode at all. They are buried under the soil. In such a situation, when a common man reaches that place after years, he gets affected by it. That means destruction continues for years due to these bombs.

In the year 2008, 120 countries of the world signed an agreement banning cluster bombs at a UN conference. It also has allies of America like France and Britain. However, the US, Russia and Ukraine have not yet banned cluster bombs. While NATO countries are providing military equipment and other assistance to Ukraine, they have imposed economic sanctions on Russia. The International Court of Justice has declared Russian President Vladimir Putin guilty of attacking Ukraine. In such a situation, it is natural for Russian President Putin to fret. In this anger, he can take any decision. Recently, Putin’s Special Advisor and former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has threatened Ukraine with a nuclear attack. Medvedev has said that if Ukraine continues to retaliate like this and tries to occupy our land with NATO, then we will be forced to use nuclear weapons. This is not the first time Russia has threatened Ukraine with a nuclear attack. Putin himself has said in February and April that if America and NATO continue to help Ukraine, Russia will use all options including nuclear weapons. Not only this, it has also deployed its nuclear weapons.

Medvedev has said that just think, what will happen if our soldiers have to retreat. Ukraine is receiving open aid from the US and NATO. If they try to snatch our land or try to break Russia into pieces, then we will have to use nuclear weapons. Medvedev’s statement confirms that if the war starts to go in favor of Ukraine, Russia will launch a nuclear attack on it. It is also important to know here that Medvedev is also the chairman of the Russian Security Council. Medvedev had also given a direct threat to America a few months back. He had said that if Russia is defeated in the war with Ukraine, civil war will break out in America and after that there will be nuclear war. There is no such weapon, which Russia does not have. We have not used dangerous weapons till now, Russia can end the war even today in a few days, but we understand our responsibility. On the other hand, recently the President of Ukraine Zelensky said that we have taken steps on the path of victory. Very soon our army will get those areas which Russia has occupied.

Russia has been on the offensive since the beginning of July. It is as if Putin himself is batting against America and Europe on the front foot. Russia has distanced itself from the Black Sea Grain Agreement. On May 17, Russia agreed to extend the agreement for 60 days. Russia was dissatisfied because of one part of this deal and in July it finally announced its end. On the other hand, Ukraine announced that it would not allow oil supplies to other countries from Russian ports.

For the last year and a half, there was talk of agreement several times. Both Russia and Ukraine have said that they will not come to the negotiating table for peace talks without conditions. Ukraine says that it will not give any part of its land to Russia. Russia, meanwhile, says that Ukraine must accept “the new ground reality”. In late February last year, Russia launched a “special military operation” against Ukraine. During the past, Russia has occupied many parts in the south and east of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he does not reject the idea of ​​peace talks regarding Ukraine. After talking to the leaders of African countries during the Russia-Africa Forum being held in St. Petersburg, he said that the offer made by China or the efforts made by Africa can become the basis for peace talks. But Putin also said that the ceasefire could not happen as long as the Ukrainian army continued to attack them.

Putin said, “If they attack us, why won’t we retaliate. Some people want peace talks. We have not ruled it out. You know I have said before that we are talking about peace.” Don’t rule out talks.

In any case, the situation is very critical. Seeing himself losing, Putin can do anything. Nuclear bomb is also an alternative to that. In such a situation, the whole world should try to stop this war which is going towards the great destruction. Today, while the United Nations has completely failed to stop this war. Neither of the warring countries is ready to accept his words, today the Russia-Africa Forum is talking about a settlement. Everyone should try this. The whole world should do it. India can also play a decisive role in this, that is why it should immediately start efforts to end the war.

-Ashok Madhup

(The author is a senior journalist)