UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR! A Plot well played? Let's understand

Long before the first shots were fired in the Russia-Ukraine war, I was covering the region's events. In the face of polarized narratives shaped by Western-centric ideologies such as "TRUMP'OLOGY" and "NATOism," it is critical to understand certain fundamental truths that transcend Atlantic diplomacy's political biases.

Whenever there's a war or a heightened tension, one needs to address the question about "Motive", and "gains". Who benefits the most from the chaos, destruction, and massacre? When two countries fight, a third country may benefit from turmoil. Sometimes it is not just one country, but an entire region, that claps loudly as two nations engage in a grumpy fight, with the "stake of resources and their exploitation" on the receiving end. The questions of "who" and "why" should never be overlooked.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF!

Historically, the Orient has been a victim of brutal colonialism and tyranny, ruthless anarchy, centuries of exploitation, suppression, and systemic destabilization, with the consequences and scars still etched in the veins of Asian nations, who are still paying the price for the colonized powers' ruthlessness.

I cannot recount the entire event, but in summary, following the dissolution of the USSR and the symbolic fall of the Berlin Wall, let us remember that then-US President George Bush assured then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not expand eastward. Gorbachev himself warned that such expansion would provoke instability. What was not signed in a writing treaty as a matter of trust by Gorbachev was a stab in the back by Bush.

Today, NATO's assertive eastward push, combined with Ukrainian President Zelensky's rigid stance, has resulted in a series of escalations. President Putin's warnings about the perceived encroachment on Oriental security concerns were not unprecedented. You do not deploy missiles and tanks near a superpower's border! You do not push their tolerance to its limits.

DIVIDE AND RULE- The Golden concept followed by Western nations:

This crisis is about more than just Ukraine's right to choose alliances or sovereignty; it is also about the broader implications of Western geopolitical maneuvering in a historically sensitive region that has already suffered the consequences of European colonization. NATO and the EU have played a magnificent role in history by pitting neighbours against neighbours, not letting go of their push towards the East, and keeping an eye out for resource exploitation and asserting their rights in a region in which they have no rights.

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE?

The EU had a wild ambition, it doesn't move without motives, it doesn't supply arms and ammunition in the name of humanity, and it used Ukraine as one of its pawns or Zelensky was more than willing to create a pawn of his own nation. One thing that Zelensky refused to understand was that the European powers needed access to Ukraine's rich natural resources and critical raw materials to enhance their industrial structural growth. Ukraine possesses significant deposits of titanium, graphite, lithium, and rare earth metals, among others, which are quintessential for various sectors, including energy, electronics, and defense. Was this a crony plot by NATO to harness the energy resources of an Oriental nation, and despite repeated warnings regarding the output of this decision by Putin, Zelensky refused to understand the gravity of the matter and resources involved.

THE CLASH FOR RESOURCES:

Ukraine is a bundle house of resources placed at a strategic position in the World's map, and a question rises, was Ukraine being pushed under the disguise of sovereignty, while deeper interests were being played out in the background. Either Zelensky played it well, or he was the stand used by NATO to fire on Moscow, weakening its position. Despite his popularity as a leader, consider the misery he has brought to his own country; look at the luxury deep within, and you will understand the hard truth. Look at the scorching tanned faces of the soldiers at the end, and you will be forced to consider Zelensky's unwavering obsession with NATO. The EU has experienced internal divisions over the years, with several countries withdrawing from its complex agenda.

HOW MANY NATIONS WERE FIGHTING MOSCOW AT ONCE IN HINDSIGHT?

The tariff war with Russia, multi-national companies boycotting their grounds, western sanctions, and extensive military aid exacerbated the dire situation. How many countries have been fighting for three years to isolate and weaken a single nation that continues to persevere and roar in the face of overwhelming odds? Against this backdrop, Ukraine has found itself at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war.

THE INSECURITY OF WEST OVER THE GROWTH OF ASIA:

The applause of the Atlantic nations obscured a darker truth: Asia is rising on every core front, from manufacturing to defense, innovation, and skills, and what would be the best move to stir and shake the subcontinent, making its internal position vulnerable, and then pursuing a war in the continent by bridging national divides. Is not that what history teaches us? "Divide and Rule," the golden rule followed by Western nations. One must ask whether the pursuit of Western endorsement was worth the risk to millions of Ukrainians. Did it justify Russia and Ukraine's losses in so many areas?

TAKING A HIT AMIDST PEACE TALKS?

Zelensky's decision to double down amid ongoing peace talks while seeking praise and support from distant allies puts his own country in jeopardy. True leadership is measured not by standing ovations abroad or hiding in a bunker, but rather by ensuring domestic stability and peace. In an attempt to make history and establish a name on the global stage, even Ukrainians failed to recognize how badly they were duped by Western agendas and their own president.

DID UKRAINE JEOPARDIZE ITS LONG TERM SECURITY?

Since 2022, the Orient has not seen peace. Relentless destruction has been ongoing, from one region to the other. Moments of potential reconciliation, such as the exchange of prisoners of war and scheduled diplomatic talks, were derailed by decisions that exacerbated the conflict. In its pursuit of symbolic victories, Ukraine may have jeopardized its long-term security.

If a global power is cornered and compelled to defend itself, can NATO be relied upon to respond beyond words and sanctions? And would Trump's crazy fingers on his keyboard help any nation while producing long-term beneficial results?

ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR THE ORIENT:

These are uncomfortable but extremely important questions that must be raised on a higher level. In the midst of the conflict, clarity and rational thought must take precedence over ideological fervor. We must reassess not only the actions of governments involved in turf wars, but also the narratives that the world has blindly accepted. The Orient needs to ask itself, and its nations, if they truly understand the implications of decisions like these, if they wish to keep on fighting like this! If they wish to fulfil the agenda of political instability ruled out by the West in the region?

-Muneeta Aneja

(Research Journalist, Best-Selling Author, Scholar)

Views expressed are personal based on prior research and keen eye on the Orient situation.