Some New Questions About Ukraine

These Answers Make Logical Sense…

Postage stamp 2019 Constitution of Ukraine. Photo by Olha Vermenych, 27 June 2019. Wikimedia Commons According to the Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine on Copyright and Related rights this work is in the public domain within Ukraine and possibly in other jurisdictions

If you are feeling tired of the war in Ukraine, think how much more tedious it is for people who live there. Imagine trying to organise your life around constant bombardments with missiles, drones and bombs.

My birthday is on 25 April; this year I reached 72. I received the usual parcel from my daughter. This year, it included a small book called “A Message From Ukraine,” which contains extracts of speeches by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. An excellent gift for anyone who cares about Ukrainians.

About a year ago, I wrote some questions I had about Ukraine. That was quite popular, so I’ve decided to update it to the current situation:

Is there any truth behind the allegation that both sides bear some responsibility for the war?

There is no logical reason to think this; all the evidence says the following:

With Ukraine, Russia has no valid argument at all. It’s just a bully, and like most people, I’ve learned that the only way to deal with bullies is to fight back. Ukraine is doing that well, with courage, innovation, and skill. Their motivation is to survive, rebuild, and take their place in Europe:

To be, as Zelenskiy says in his book, “The free people of an independent Ukraine.”

I don’t usually take sides easily, but on 24 February 2022, when Russian forces first invaded Ukraine, I understood what was happening. I studied International Politics, know quite a lot about International Law, and am an experienced investigator.

Invasion is aggression, and aggression is a war crime. It was the first of many. Bucha, Izium, Mariúpol and many others have been added to this catalogue of nightmares inflicted on Ukrainians.

After Zelenskiy, the next hero of the invasion was Roman Hlybov. You might not know the name, but you know about what he did. He was the guard on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island who told a Russian warship to “Go fuck yourself.” I admire people who face down bullies. Many more heroes have emerged since.

Putin gave a range of “excuses” for his brutal land-grab; first Ukraine was full of Nazis, then it was dangerously corrupt. Every country with people in it has a few Nazis, and some corruption. We all find ways to deal with it, and being shot at never helps.

Finding few people stupid enough to believe any of this nonsense, he has now settled on establishing the “Russkiy Mir,” to unite and defend Russian speakers worldwide.

Through all this, Zelenskiy remained calm, wise, and remarkably brave. He’s a leader who actually leads (in extremely difficult circumstances) and has gained most people’s respect and co-operation.

Are peace negotiations doing any good?

Not yet. Ukraine wants a “fair and lasting peace.” That has not been offered. At each alleged “peace conference”, Russia produces a list of demands it has no right to make, and which all entail total capitulation from Ukraine.

What would the Allies have said in 1944 if Hitler had turned up with a list of demands? Would the US have said: “Okay, Adolf, you can keep France in return for a ceasefire”? If they had, what would the other Allies have said (especially the French)? They are asking Ukrainians to accept a similar “deal” now.

If Ukraine stops fighting, it will cease to exist, and Russia will move on to its next target, probably the Baltic.

The present US government has little respect among other leaders (think how they responded to those tariffs). It also has no right at all to make concessions on Ukraine’s behalf. And how can anyone trust “negotiations” between a war criminal and a convicted felon, both proven liars?

You can’t be taken seriously as a mediator if you are blatantly attached to one side in a dispute. Or if you don’t really care but just want attention (or a Nobel Peace Prize). If you’ve been following recent farces in the Oval Office, you’ll understand why the current US leaders are unsuitable.

If not the US, who could mediate?

Nobody can mediate successfully until Russia sincerely wants peace. When Zelenskiy was waiting in Istanbul for Putin, we knew it didn’t. Putin is the only person who can stop the war in Ukraine. He started it. He could take his army and leave.

(I lived for about 20 years in Northern Ireland. The “Troubles” there continued until the late 1990s, when one thing became clear: everyone, on all sides, had enough and wanted to stop the violence. You can’t negotiate peace until that point.)

The only long-term solution is a demilitarised Russia; we’ve already seen them break many agreements they had signed. Give Ukraine the equipment it needs to complete the job it’s done so well, against the odds, so far.

Why does Russia insist on demilitarising Ukraine as part of any peace deal?

Only one answer makes sense: The “peace” would be temporary. If they didn’t plan to return later for more, why would they care what weapons and troops Ukraine has?

It’s obvious that Putin left rationality behind a long time ago. He doesn’t even care about Russians, losing over a million in Ukraine (many dead, others out of action). He is a brutal war criminal; the list of war crimes where he bears ultimate responsibility grows daily.

After the recent success of Operation Spìderweb, will Russia retaliate?

They will call it that, but this operation was set up to reduce Russian attacks on Ukraine. (Again, who started it?) Destroying the bombers did not cause any fatalities, unlike Russia’s frequent targeting of civilian infrastructure.

I’ll leave it to Anna from Ukraine to answer this one; she is “from Ukraine and in Ukraine”, and says that Ukrainians are used to Russian aggression, are happy and proud to have reduced the numbers of potential missile strikes, and are not afraid of consequences.

Ukraine is now a world leader in drone technology. NATO and other allies could surely find that, and their combat experience, useful someday.

What about the Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russian troops, and those still in occupied areas?

A recent video by a French news crew, shown on Telegram, showed children in what’s left of Mariúpol singing the Russian national anthem and receiving certificates for being Russian citizens. Older boys were in military uniform and would eventually be expected to fight against their family and friends in Ukraine.

Like the children kidnapped and taken to Russia, their previous lives have been erased. This type of situation is mentioned in the 1949 Genocide Convention; there are more ways of destroying a person than by killing them. Add it to the list of war crimes.

There are people looking for these children, whose personal details have been changed. The only way to be sure who they are will be through DNA.

I wish I could help more actively, but writing about it is the best I can do, I think.

Donations to support Ukraine can be sent to United24 (For information, visit u24.gov.ua)

Sources:

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, “A Message from Ukraine,” published by Hutchinson Heinemann 2022/Penguin Books 2024. *Note to US government: He expresses gratitude to everyone who has helped. People who can read can check Chapter 17, page 127.

Ground News

Denys Davydov and RFU News both on Telegram

Anna from Ukraine on YouTube, (she also has a more personal/cultural/historical channel, Anna Danylchuk, also on YouTube, and some lovely merch available)

UATV News on YouTube (Operator Starsky has a great sense of humour.)

Here on Medium, three writers who are actually in Ukraine are Stefan Korshak, Giorgio Provinciali and Ain Staerlingson. All are doing excellent work.

[embed]Read or Die — Publication Rules Updated August 2024 Guidelinesmedium.com