The entire world was horrified yesterday when Russia unleashed its illegal, immoral and outrageous invasion of Ukraine. The massive assault by an aggressor known for its ruthlessness and disdain for civilian lives is a catastrophe for Ukraine and the European continent.
The unprovoked assault, the continent’s biggest attack by one state on another since the second world war, is a terrible blow to the international system. Vladimir Putin launched his attack even as the United Nations security council made its last desperate attempts to stop him. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres pleaded with him publicly to call off his troops, to no avail.
Mr. Putin says that he wants to “demilitarize” and “de-nazify” a democratic country that freely chose its Jewish president. Analysts believes his aim is to topple the government and install a puppet regime.
Additionally, Putin warned against other countries “meddling” warning that otherwise there would be “consequences you have never encountered in your history,” which can be decoded as a barely veiled threat of nuclear war.
World leaders have united in soundly condemning Russia’s act of war and vowed to hold Moscow accountable. The tweet of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo summed up global sentiment when he said it was “Europe’s darkest hour” since World War II.
How world leaders and the global community now face the urgent challenge of dealing with Vladimir Putin’s despicable act of war and counter Moscow’s aggression. Other global flashpoints have also to be monitored closely, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may inspire other countries with similarly-minded leaders to take rash, violent and patently illegal action against disputed territories.
Because of this unprecedented act of war, the world has been thrust into a new era. We are one with the civilized world in condemning Russia’s actions and hoping that a peaceful resolution can be expeditiously arranged. We also hope that peace, diplomacy and levelheadedness continues to reign supreme among the leaders of all the other nations because nobody wants the world to descend into even more war and violence.*
