The Russia-Ukraine war has now completed over 20 days, but, there is nothing worthwhile that Russia seems to have achieved from it. Instead, the country, led by Putin, has plunged deep into crisis as the world powers stand against its military offensive on Ukraine and imposed strict and tough sanctions, thus, paralysing the country’s economy.
As a result, as it might not come to the fore due to censorship, the people of Russia—who have got nothing to do with the war—have started to feel the heat as the west pulls out of a wide range of trade and businesses set up across the country, apart from other severe restrictions.
On the other hand, the Ukrainians have put up a strong defence due to which the Russian troops have not been able to make much headway in their plan of ceasing the power, pushing their favourites, dismissing the popular Government, and controlling the country.
Russia along with China also resorted to propaganda, information warfare, aimed at weakening the defences of Ukraine put up by not only military forces but the commoners as well. On that front too, Russia doesn’t seem to have made any difference.
It is also to be noted here that Russia, at the start of its offensive, somehow, knew that the west, particularly, Europe won’t oppose whatever it will do to invade Ukraine due to the energy dependency of these countries on Russia.
However, the tables have turned as the UK is now eyeing Saudis to fulfil its energy needs, while the US is also looking for alternatives even it has already banned energy import from Russia as a part of its package of sanctions.
Even in India’s case which also is dependent on energy imports from Russia, things appear not to be moving in Russia’s favour as Iran seems to have jumped in to salvage out of the present global crisis by stating that it was ready to fulfil India’s energy needs without a role of any third party.
Remember, Iran used to be the second-largest oil supplier to India however the imports were halted after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran and was back with the sanctions on its oil exports.
In these 20 plus days, things do not seem to have gone as per the Russian plan, rather, what has happened, is that the country has been left isolated, with the world cutting ties with the country and ensuring ambitious leadership of the country feels the pinch for trampling over the UN charter which prohibits countries attacking each other.
All said and done, and with little achieved so far, there still is scope for Russia to call off its military offensive on Ukraine and get on to the table of dialogue to resolve all the issues. Death, destruction, more importantly, the migration of people from Ukraine needs to stop right now. War needs to end now.
