Book review Russian Ukraine Crises - Written by Professor Muhammad Ehsan Ali

05 Dec 2024

Intro

1. The Russian Ukraine crises has emerged on the global center stage at the
time when world believed it the least after end of cold war. The major global
issues were climate change, cyber security and economic development.
However, Russian invasion of Ukraine caught the world by surprise at crucial
time when entire world was focused on other issues than war.
2. Russian invasion of Ukraine has a background without which it is quiet
impossible to understand the crises. Russia was disintegrated in 1991 after
afghan invasion and 15 states took birth from its womb. The world moved from a
multipolar to a unipolar world under the leadership of US after the Soviet Union
was crushed. US introduced a liberal international world order which invited all
countries from across the globe for economic progress, social uplifting, access to
its markets and equal opportunities for all who would align with new world order.
US was a sole leader in maintaining balance of Power which I will in upcoming
paras how maintaining a global balance of power is necessary for peace and
stability in world. However, these global order of liberal democracies was
challenged silently by many countries in world. ‘
3. It goes without saying that US was busy in invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan,
Libya and Yemen whereas two emerging and rising powers were covertly taking
advantage of US Liberal world order by strengthening and building their
economies. Resultantly, when US was withdrawing from Afghanistan, both US
and Russia became 2 major economies of world. Both resurgent Russia and
rising China developed economic and military strength to challenge hegemony of
US. The world has already seen imperialism and colonization during WW2 when
super powers phy occupied the client states whereas new colonization was
introduced by US through sanctions in which no phy occupation was req any
more. The old world order has seen control through direct control in form of
colonies however that imperialist system lasted for 300 years. After World War 2,
super power doesn’t need to phy invade any place but merely put strict economic
sanctions to bring the client country to its knees.
4. After World War 2, it was decided in different pacts to not engage in phy
invasion of other countries and all countries will have control over their sphere of
influence. However, US being the global hegemon, takes entire world as its
sphere of influence and invade any part of world. Baltic States were incorporated
and extended memberships of NATO which were part of Soviets Union before
soviet disintegration. After soviet disintegration, NATOs continues Eastward
expansion has raised alarm bells for its security and sovereignty. The last time
 Russia halted Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea in 2014 on same pretext to
maintain its buffer zone and stop NATOs expansion eastwards.

Putinism A Concept
5. President Putin has taken over as president of Russia in 2000 and again
in 2012 as second tenure. He believes in autocracy that means power and
strength with one man and he never aligned with model of liberal democracy.
The democracies only nurture colossal protests and chaos as can be seen in
case of Pakistan. Except few counties where strong democracies are built on
solid values, democracies has failed to garner any stability and progress.
Pakistani is a case in point where since last 74 years, democracy has been
unable to bring any economic, political, social and moral stability.
6. Putin believes that “A country is either a sovereign country or a colony”,
there is other space in between. When Ukraine back in 2014 changed the
government through a regime change by US, Russian was compelled to take
action. Putin has garnered enough political and public strength to launch
operation in Ukraine. He is very much clear about security of his state. NATO
was 1000 miles away from kremlin which has now reduced to just 150 Miles
away from kremlin. That is the greatest concern for Putin to take action against
Ukraine from joining NATO and check mating NATO from further moving east
wards. Recently Finland and Sweden has also joined NATO. So the sphere of
influence of Russia was challenged by US, which resulted in invasion of Ukraine.
Moreover, entire black sea is now patrolled by NATO now after Finland and
Sweden Joined NATO.

Russian Case

7. The Russian has remained former global power who couldn’t afford US to
be present at 150 miles from kremlin in form of NATO after Ukraine was offered
NATOs membership by west. US invested a lot of time and resources cornering
and combating Russia during Cold War. When Russia was disintegrated in 1991,
US still considers China and Russia greatest global threat. In this purview, US
continue to expand eastwards further towards Russia by giving memberships to
Baltic States. However, President Putin has proved himself a leader that could
lead its people towards one of the global powers again. This was proved through
major nerve chilling challenges that Putin faced in form of 1300 hostages taken
during a music concert few miles away from kremlin and another similar event in
which many people were kept hostage. Putin didn’t surrender to these challenges
and hence his leadership thwarted away two challenges demanding cessation of
invasion of Chechnya and won confidence of his people.
 8. It is similar for USA to give NATO membership to Ukraine as if Russia
puts his military in Cuba, Mexico or Canada to counter US. So Russia ultimately
taken this descion to launch operation in Donbas region to incl Luhansk and
Donetsk. The world may call it blatant invasion of a country and attack on
sovereignty of Ukraine but for Russia and its people, it’s a measure to check
mate NATO’s Eastward expansion and stop US from squeezing its buffer zone
pushing security of Russia in extreme vulnerability.

Role of other Countries

9. The entire world felt the heat of Ukraine crises as it has hit the globe with
economic and food security crises. Ukraine was once declared the bread basket
of Europe proving food to whole Europe in 1920. However, in modern world,
Ukraine was proving Middle East, Europe, and Africa with wheat and other
products which eventually was cut off due to Russian invasion. On the other
hand, Russia was the largest gas producer of the world and provides gas to
Europe. Europe also cannot afford to completely cut down its gas supplies by
boycotting Russia.US has hit Russia with many sanctions in response to invasion
in Ukraine. However, US sanctions were carefully navigated and mitigated by
Russia but Russia is still struggling to find balance and way fwd. Needless to say
that huge infrastructure of Russia , machinery, spare parts of trains, services of
stations, banking system , online Payment systems for citizens along with
countless other facilities has ceased to exist for Russian public. Moreover, over
1000 companies operating in Russia are forced to shut operations and exit
country leaving behind huge gap. However, Russia is member of UN and owns
Veto power. It’s not possible to neglect Russia for longer period of time.
10. Back in 1918, after World War 1, Germany was slapped with humiliating
sanctions leading to another world war in 1939. Likewise, Japanese blockade of
Oil supplies by US in 1940 resulted in Pearl Harbor. So the world should not
forget, putting unbearable sanctions on any ex super power may result in another
bigger war that can take into the grip very closely connected world which is
global village in modern time. However, as US still maintains balance of power
halting thereby Russia or any other country from an all-out invasion of any
independent state after multiple treaties and pacts. Russia can’t act like a crazy
uncontrolled bull as she use to act in cold war.
11. This fact also can’t be neglected that entire world doesn’t stand with US as
US media is propagating from over 2 years in favor of US narrative. Despite
western media excessively provoking propaganda against Russian Invasion,
 Israel, India, china, Turkey, hungry and many other countries have taken a soft
stance not in line with US narrative. Israel for example haven’t put any sanctions
on Russia whereas Japan instantly put sanctions on Russia. Likewise, China has
emphasized on mutual and diplomatic engagement between both countries and
turkey is currently a mediator between Ukraine and Russia on diplomatic front.
Likewise India has abstained from supporting any parties in conflict. Pakistan
was the only state, which paid the price for not taking sides with US in form of
Regime Change. The day PM Imran Khan visited Russia was the day it was
decided he will no more be in office. US interferes in internal and foreign affairs
of client states whenever and however he wants which is called subversion. PM
Imran khan clearly stated that Pakistan will also not take sides with any
belligerent nation which was against US policy. What happened in Pakistan to
PM Imran Khan after his famous statement of absolutely not in answer to
provision of military bases and stance on Russia has become a commonly known
fact. Imran Khan was thrown out of office a few months later through a much
disputed Vote of No Confidence. This was result of defiance against US policy by
Pakistani PM. It was not first time US interfered in any foreign country but what
happened with Hosni Mubarak in Egypt after the Arab spring is also US
interference.

US led Western Liberal Democratic International Order

12. US ever since culmination of WW-2 advocated for a liberal world order
rather liberal democratic world order in which world will be free in terms of
freedom, liberty and equal rights of trade and economy. Though US wanted all
nations to adopt to democratic systems and benefit from US led opportunities in
form of free access to global markets for trade. Nations like China and Russia
squeezed maximum benefits from this opportunity. However, these nations along
with many others like Middle East and Asian nations never adopted Liberal
Democracy and instead adopted autocratic form of government in which power
remains with one person. As Putin says that democracy is failed system of
governance in which nothing else but only protests exist.
13. Book has amply covered all aspects of Russian Ukraine war and presents
both the views of Ukraine and Western world. I could easily now make out why
Russia attacked Ukraine which is for the security of its country and maintain a
buffer zone between Europe and Russia. Russia doesn’t want to allow NATO to
come dangerously closer to Russia extending NATO membership to Ukraine. It
was mutually decided after cold war that sphere of influence of each country will
not be touched upon. While on the other hand, US still thinks Russia is his
greatest enemy and a potential threat to world. US on one hand declared China
as greatest Economic threat and formed ASIAN NATO called QUAD to contain
china in South China Sea, while AUKUS is another attempt to corner China by
arming Australia with Nuclear Submarine. So US thinks that Russia is again on
its way to annexing and invading neighboring states to reclaim its lost status in
cold war. This apprehension of US, makes it’s more precarious and over
conscious. While Russians are concerned about their security. Russia and China
has boosted their economies through opportunity provided by US led liberal
world order and both these countries cannot afford war for longer duration.
14. It goes without saying that book is an excellent perspective on Ukraine
Russian Crises by Dr M Ehsan which is very logical, factual and close to reality.