The Russian-Ukrainian War – a year has passed. What did it show the world?

Baku/24.02.23/Turan: A year has passed since the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. On February 24 last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his address that Ukraine had decided to conduct a special military operation on the territory of Donbass; Russia launched a military invasion into Ukraine and a large-scale military operations against Ukraine from the south, from Crimea. After February 24, Ukraine liberated 40% of the occupied territories. According to the latest data, in 1 year Russia lost 145,850 servicemen in battles.

Russia was sure that it would completely occupy Ukraine in a few hours, but this did not happen. On the contrary, as they say, "I found a scythe on a stone." Political analysts said that Russia will not be able to achieve its goal and will soon retreat. However, Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for a year.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his last interview that there will be no peace until Ukraine returns Crimea.

What did this war show the world?

Political commentator Shahin Jafarli shares his thoughts on this in the "Difficult Question" program.

According to him, the war in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated that Russia is not the same as a year ago. But the world and the international security system are also not the same as before.

"There have been serious metamorphoses. First of all, it became clear that the security architecture formed in Europe after the Second World War was actually destroyed. It has demonstrated its inconsistency - in the European space, one state has openly launched a war against another," Jafarli said.

The political scientist noted that earlier Russia carried out aggression against its neighbors - in 2008 against Georgia and in 2014 against Ukraine, under the pretext of protecting the rights of ethnic minorities; but the attack on Ukraine that occurred in 2020 occurred without any pretext.

According to the expert, one of the main reasons for such a loyal attitude of Western countries to Moscow's annexationist pranks was its policy focused on cooperation with Russia. This policy was based on the concept that Russia, having "shaken the dust off its feet" of totalitarianism, although too slowly, is still moving towards democracy and it needs help in this. In addition, Western capitals believed that international security in cooperation with Russia could be ensured much more effectively. And what was happening with Georgia and Ukraine in their eyes was a trifle that you can ignore.

But, after Russia invaded Ukraine once again on February 24, the West became convinced that Russia did not intend to abandon its hegemonic aspirations and if not to stop  it in time, the consequences can be the most serious not only for Europe, but also for the United States itself.--0--