The globe is in the midst of the most dangerous decade since World War II, according to President Vladimir Putin, as Western elites, American and its allies are fighting to for its power dominance over the world. In one of the recent speeches since sending soldiers into Ukraine, Putin indicated he had no regrets about what he termed “a special operation” and accused the West of inciting the conflict. Russia has strongly opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) policy of expansion to the east. The Russian President said that the next decade is likely to be the most hazardous, unexpected, and significant decade since the end of WWII, he added that “we are standing at a historical frontier.” According to Vladimir Lenin, a Russian revolutionary and politician, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” One such decade is currently taking place in the world as a rapid breakdown in global order is being seen, similar to historical times. But considering the magnitude of recent problems when compared to the historical problems, the deterioration poses a major threat than ever before. It is because, the globe is currently witnessing a resurgence of the elements of conventional geopolitics, including rivalry between major powers, imperial ambitions, and conflict over resources.
Due to the fact that they do not have anything to exchange that could enable peace negotiations to end the war, Russia and Ukraine have left little space in present policy discussions for the consideration of a peace process. Ukrainian and Russian forces have been preparing for what may be one of the most important confrontations, since the largest confrontation with the West during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Soviet Union and the United States came the closest to nuclear war. Putin and other officials have regularly threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia’s claimed annexation of areas of Ukraine.
Whereas, the West and the United States has also made it clear that there will be no hindrance in using power against Russia in case of any escalation. The world cannot afford nuclear collision by any state, the United States should keep its involvement in the crisis to minimum in order to prevent further escalation. The international community needs to make efforts to expand and broaden the scope of peace process. To end the conflict in Ukraine before it worsens, all the stakeholders should be involved in the talks including NATO, Europe, and the United States, in addition to Russia and Ukraine so that everyone can put their grievances on the front including sanctions imposed on Russia, global economic recession and Europe’s energy crisis in order to negotiate and find solutions to prevent future conflicts.
Research Associate, Pakistan House