Ukraine Russia Conflict

  • Putin came to power for his own reasons

    President Vladimir Putin had a lot of criticisms about Russia’s position in the world before he came to power for the first time. He understood most of the strategic necessities the State of Russia had, but was concerned too many “flimsy” ideas were being entered in the mainstream of military thinking. His position had been to clear all of it up.

    He speaks confidently about the conflict with Ukraine because it looks more straightforward to him. He noted conspiracy theories about the East of Europe that he didn’t think held water, and had privately said that with political power he would try to change this.

    Entering politics at the highest level in Moscow, he duly found out who the culprits were. In a bid for a different style of leadership, he chose to get rid of these powerful people rather than put a burden on the powerless in Russian communities. He’d straightened the way for a clear national policy.

    Russia’s war is about an interpretation of a power balance and its vision of peace, but only those who have studied the country will understand it. It’s not out of fear of a US President. It’s not even just for economic reasons. It includes details on the ground and some that are secret from us. In Putin’s mind this is a modern Russian era and there’s more to go for.

  • The EU is Ukraine’s surest chance of peace

    Ukraine’s entry to the EU is a chance for lasting peace in its eyes. It translates as a clear rejection of Russia’s warmongering. The resultant hard border may be a tough ask for the faltering Union, but it’s a worthy task of Europe, one it can use to its own advantage.

    The minds that scheme for the EU’s next moves often lament their lack of real contact with Russia, saying no line really exists for it to negotiate along any real terms. Ukraine may focus lawmakers on improving Europe’s security than give more scope for its critics.

  • Moscow limits concerns to worry about itself

    The issue of dissent is a current trend of thought about Russia, but there isn’t scope to replace leadership and regions have to accept the local authority kept in place by Putin and his administration. This conflicts with more nominal cultural values that don’t centre on Moscow and the worship of itself.

    Putin is known as having a comfortable position in the circles of control that Moscow has cultivated through Presidencies past and present. He is a white Russian who understands the modern era that the country is trying to innovate on its feet. He also gets the nuance of this across the world.

    The obvious objections that people can make often pale as they’re asked to suggest changes, and those that even just look like Putin himself fail at this task. There are a few examples of those that have held out to confront the Kremlin and have won on their own terms, but their gains were narrow.

    A mobilisation for war strikes at feelings in human nature everywhere, and in Russia it takes on concerns about human wellbeing. The call for a more religious temper is Putin’s way of suggesting a calmer response across regions to hinderances to welfare, but tempers are raised anyway.

    There’s little chance for regime change in Russia, no matter the news of losses to Ukraine at the front. The bullish perceptions of younger Russians, trained on hopes for the future and work for themselves, is a guiding force for planners in Russia’s capital. They ignore lesser concerns for this prospect.

  • Morale in Russia is a problematic feature

    The increasing death toll for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine is surely proving to be a reason for a cold reception for the war in Moscow and in other parts of Russia too. A report by Defence Intelligence has now suggested that Russia has lost over 1.2 million soldiers.

    It’s starting to look like a fruitless attempt at a takeover of Kyiv and a new imperial Russia is looking less and less likely now. A question is if Russia will give up at the word of its President, and if Putin is willing because the chance of victory looks slim.

  • Russia invokes old war rhetoric

    Russia is seeking to capitalise on market exposure by saying such things to Ukraine that are not worthy of hearing inside the country. The statements of leaders are derogatory to a country that knows what democracy is – and believes in it.

    Russian nationals purportedly transporting a suspect in the shooting of Vladimir Alexeyez at an apartment (Source: Kremlin_Russian/Telegram).

    In saying so, even President Putin runs the risks of sounding like a pariah that is so because he lacks focus or purpose. The implications of such statements aren’t factual. They don’t have a direct regard to the law and can’t be used for it.

    The recent shooting of a Spy Chief in Russia highlights the case that tensions are flaring. It’s possible that inflammatory rhetoric has a role to play in it. This is not certain, but such a belief may underscore the notion that words have power.

  • Putin has added focus to Russian politics

    The political regime of Putin isn’t lacking in ideas. He’s said to be a man of directives, according to those that know him. It’s not uncommon for regional leaders to get exasperated by it. He’s also a meticulous social organiser. It’s believed much of the nationwide events that hold together a unified identity in difficult times are driven by his resolve.

    His addition of focus to Russian politics is the driving power of this current military campaign. Of course, a Russian leader is going to hold all the power, but Putin is an adept political operator. He knows that giving advice is the key to keeping his Generals attention. He also knows that Russian pace slips if it’s not jolted by repeated interventions.

  • Ukraine is our first line of defence in Europe

    Ukraine is fighting a battle against a Russian state that has a lot of resolve behind its campaign to overturn democratic principles and to return regions into its iron grip of paternalistic control.

    This is the bitter reality of fighting on the battlefield in places where Russia had been expelled and should no longer be seen or heard of.

    The regional difficulties that emerge as political technicalities cannot override the notion that powers a Ukrainian’s soldiers belief in his or her country as Europe’s first line of defence.

  • Putin’s Russia is fully nuclear

    The belief is now that Russia has full nuclear capability. This isn’t just suggested by its recent announcement of new technologies it’s put into submarines and missiles, but indicative also of material derived from research into the Russian state.

    The fact is, Russia is a stable threat to us all. If Putin speaks, it’s likely that his words will now be listened to as a lot more literal than before. If he’s taken as a joke, his nuclear deterrent is ready to repel any further humiliation.

    The response of nations across the world must be different if the Russian state makes a move. It’s not a threat it can use to make Ukraine surrender, for instance, but it’s something to reckon with.

  • Russia powers ahead in spite of sanctions

    The state of things on the ground in Russia is different to those along the airwaves. This is the sentiment that many professional Russians have if it comes to Western media.

    They’re proud of their country’s fortunes.

    They believe that recent progress in business and particularly in the energy sector has strengthened their claim to being a future-focused, successful State.

    The longevity of their hopes is found in recent moves to also forge direct links to others. It’s seen in meetings between Russian state and Chinese state representatives.

    It’s also now coming through slowly in its own news.

    The reporting by TASS (a Russian news agency) that Gazprom is selling high amounts of gas to China via its new Power of Siberia pipeline tells us more about its ambitions, and influence.

    The fact is, Russia can and will look elswhere.

    While it may be a policy of shutdown or denial that Russia faces in the West, it can challenge a showdown with America by continuing to build on its regional significance.

  • Europe is not a warmonger

    The Ukraine-Russia conflict is entirely the fault of Russia. Ukraine and its allies did not start it. The often combative Russian state descended into its own malaise.

    It feels like it’s a way out, but this is a false belief. Whatever the security concerns of the closed state, this is not a path to resolution. It opens it up to outright warfare.

  • Russia is a standard enemy

    Russia is a standard enemy as far as we can know one. The exceptional circumstance of either of the World Wars has to be left aside now. In the modern world, there are now State threats everywhere. These sometimes take the form of something like espionage, or at other times it’s just the State itself.

    The terms that we’ve come to use and the fear that we feel are justly applicable to Russia. We can see this because of the Ukrainian struggle that’s underway. Albeit it’s not our fight, what we can look at it like a focused lens on how we see things. We see it’s reality.

  • Russia’s online boasts

    Russia is sending its people online to boast about its fortunes. This is the conclusion to seeing live shows presented by citizens that may be Russian military personnel. The value in doing it is perceived to be a boost to reputation – and morale.

    Clips of alleged Russian military personnel sharing their interests online (via YouTube).

    This is key for the Russian army. It needs to present a living attitude, or standard, so-called that brings to mind a modern Russia that supports its citizens. However, as more people die on the frontlines such tactics look increasingly desperate.

  • Revealed: Russia’s long cold war

    The Russia that we know of is not as historical as we presume, that’s if your dealings with it are purely on its modern terms. The Presidency of Russia is known as technically advanced for example, and it has a tight grip on the Russian people. Its level of control is far higher than in other Western democracies.

    However, the Russian state itself is still riven with desires for older times or more brutal control. There are competing factions that want different forms of Presidency, but these are ideals for a dictatorship and not a more open rule.

    The rumours swirl around the Kremlin, the seat of its power, that Putin has faced tumultuous times in his terms. These include his family disappearing from view, attempts at takeover, and internal conflict. This is not flattering for an administration of public relations.

  • Putin is aiming for a perfect settlement

    Russia says its invasion of Ukraine is to stop a threat to its own national security. However, it’s not just a violation of sovereign territory, but it’s also a call for the cessation of a democratic Ukraine. To many Ukrainians, democracy is still new there and it threatens it.

    Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says the Russian invasion is a national security effort.

    It’s accepted the uncertainty of it is far removed from the problems of other Western powers. The bombardment isn’t like a volley of awkward questions from reporters. It’s more of a fundamental test of resolve. It challenges – and reshapes – national character.

    Putin’s challenge in the effort is a zero-sum game in his eyes. He doesn’t see compromise as necessary to a victory, and agreements may threaten to diminish potential outcomes. It’s a war of perfect returns. He wants a safer Russia and this is how he gets it.

  • The Russian Presidency is a minefield

    The Russian state is a large, complex modern drama that blends politics and deep heritage. However, its mixed blessing even for the Russian people is a curse for the rest of us. It doesn’t lay straight lines for diplomacy as much as it bends and breaks the rules by it.

    All the Presidents of Russia since 1991 (Images: Wikipedia).

    The Ukraine-Russia war is a part of the takeover of the modern Russian mindset by strong Presidents. They love an assertive platform in public. They sabre rattle at their neighbours – who are also now all perceived as enemies.