Even after two years of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian President continues to insist that all his goals will be achieved. In the latest Ukraine peace summit, the world leaders slammed Putin’s proposals for peace in Ukraine. The Russian president said that Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow.
We do not welcome political unrest where mankind and its well-being are compromised. For the last two years, Ukraine and Russia have locked horns and Russia has the upper hand. But Ukraine has the sympathy of Europe and the rest of the world. Though undoubtedly Ukraine has faced a jolt with the Russian invasion and people suffered, here we will open up about Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
Dealing With NATO Ambitions
From the beginning, Putin has raised his concerns about NATO’s role in Europe. He has always criticized the alliance’s expansion and probable Ukrainian membership as a serious threat to Russian security. Alongside it is regarded as a betrayal of promises at the end of the Cold War to not extend NATO eastward. Russian draft treaties on security guarantees released have an entire focus on NATO, not Ukraine. Three key demands of the treaties are – to put an end to NATO expansion, no more offensive weapon deployment at the Russian border and NATO infrastructure withdrawal back to the lines of 1997 when the NATO-Russia Founding Act was signed before the first post-Cold War wave of expansion.
Putin was uneasy about Ukraine’s increasing military and security cooperation with individual NATO members, particularly the US, which included increasingly regular and sophisticated joint drills in and around Ukraine. Like before, Putin and the other members of the Russian elite were fiercely against Ukraine joining. He believed that NATO was now consciously trying to turn Ukraine into a base of operations for surprise attacks against Russia. The Kremlin, predictably, was unresponsive to NATO’s argument that it was a defensive alliance. Remarkably, Putin blasted the West for its subversive role in inciting Ukraine to become an “anti-Russia” nation and for posing a threat to Russia in significant speeches given before the invasion.
Quelling Nationalism
When he initiated the “special military operation,” Putin had two objectives in mind for Russia’s security, which coincided with his worries about NATO: demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. The discussions between Russian and Ukrainian officials in the initial weeks following the invasion to try and create a framework for a settlement gave some indication of what those two procedures would entail. In terms of demilitarization, the Russians demanded that Ukraine remain neutral and suggested a military force with a cap of 80,000 men during peacetime, along with stringent restrictions on heavy weaponry and missile system range.
Regarding denazification, Moscow desired that Kyiv outlaw neo-Nazism and strong nationalism, as well as undo legislation that promoted an interpretation of Soviet history that differed from the version sanctioned by the Kremlin.
Controlling ‘Novorossiya’
Putin hasn’t said anything about his plans to expand his territory, though. He firmly feels that Russia and Ukraine are one people and that cooperation between the two is necessary for Ukraine to prosper. Without defining them, he has expressed his wish to reclaim Russia’s “historical lands,” which undoubtedly include at least some of Ukraine. Before its invasion of 2022, Russia had already taken control of two areas of Ukrainian territory during the unrest that erupted in 2014: Crimea, which it had unlawfully annexed, and portions of two provinces in the eastern Donbas region, where it had installed pro-Russian separatist leaders.
However, Putin seemed to indicate that he wasn’t very interested in capturing much land when he declared the “special military operation.” Three days before, Russia had recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as separate entities. He stated his resolve to defend the Russian-speaking population in these regions.
While everywhere it is all about Ukraine, there is not much discussion about NATO ambitions followed by the two more demands Putin has. Moscow has no intention to attack NATO or has refused to have other imperial aspirations. Till now we have found no criticism against Germany or other Western countries for supplying sophisticated weapons to Ukraine as it will aggravate hostilities in Ukraine. Even after two years of the war, Putin is accused of waving a nuclear stick without evidence. But he said, “Did I raise the possibility of using nuclear weapons? It was you who did that. You bring me out on this topic and then say that I am waving a nuclear stick.” “We have a nuclear doctrine. If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible for us to use all means at our disposal. This cannot be taken lightly. It must be handled professionally.” And we cannot agree more.
All we want is an end to the war. But there are always two sides to a story with one unheard and misunderstood often. People’s lives matter and we do not support matter but what are your thoughts on Putin’s POV? Share your thoughts below in the comment box.