Valadimir Putin errs, rather, terribly errs

It reminds me of 6th September,1965 when mighty India attacked weaker Pakistan believing that being much bigger country, India will run over Pakistan and, thereby, it had very proudly but foolishly publicly and very loudly declared that in the evening pf 6th September itself, Indian Army officers will sip tea at no place but in Lahore Gymkhana which did not happen alike because our valiant warriors fought back so violently that Indians were kept too far away from Lahore, forget about taking tea in Gymkhana which is almost in the heart of the city and the same crazy notion is being repeated now in Ukraine where Russian President Vladimir Putin has utterly failed to enter into the capital Kiev despite the hard fact that there is no comparison between Russia and Ukraine so far as military strength of the two countries is concerned simply because Russia is none but a Super Power which itself manufactures lot of military machineries and hardware including bombers, fighters, aircraft carriers, guided missiles, submarines, destroyers, cruisers, tanks, armored vehicles, rifles, grenades and, one can add as many more as one wishes, but the crux remains the same that Ukraine simply cannot match with mighty Russia and Putin very well knew what is the on ground strength and power of Russia as compared to Ukraine which is far too weaker and this very fact of weakness prompted Putin to attack Ukraine professing that once Russian forces enter the capital, Ukraine will automatically fall before Russia but, very much unfortunately, Putin could never ever even imagine for a fraction of a second that Ukrainians could be so very die hard citizens, willingly accepting the challenge thrusted upon by Russia instead of surrendering resulting in that despite so many continual and severe attempts during the last 6 days, Ukraine neither surrendered nor allowed Russians to enter capital Kiev.

Putin has attacked Ukraine, a country of 44 million people practicing democracy, through land, air and sea attacked saying that people of Dobans region have complained to Putin saying that their lives are very much miserable at the hands of Ukrainian government and, therefore, they realize that in their own greater interest, it is better that they should again become part of Russia like before instead of living under most pathetic, miserable and unbearable conditions prevailing at their place where they are treated being always treated very differently as if we are second-graded citizens with no rights but obligations. Putin is known for his ambitions and he wanted to cash such situation so he started sending Russian troops to the border of Ukraine giving a notice that bot the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk be given liberties and recognized as Donetsk Peoples’ Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples’ Republic (LPR) but Ukraine ignored it maintain that it is purely an internal affair of Ukraine where no foreign influence can be entertained which annoyed Putin who then declared a war against Ukraine saying that it has nothing to do with capital Kiev but only guaranteeing freedom to Dobans region.

Putin has deployed more than 130,000 troops which is more than half of its total military strength against Ukraine itself proves that such like more is nothing short of all-out war against Ukraine despite the fact that around a week before only Putin has met France President Emmanuel Macron in person and told him that he has no intention to invade Ukraine and then later after couple of days, he spoke to US President Joe Biden telling him also that will not militarily attack Ukraine but now it is proved beyond slightest doubt that he lied to both of his Super Powers’ colleagues. Once years back in 2014, Putin issued a statement saying, ‘…….if someone decides to annihilate Russia, we have legal rights to respond. Yes, it will be a catastrophe for humanity and for the world. But I’m a citizen if Russia and its head of state. Why do we need a world without Russia in it?’ This is nothing but an absolutely very sweeping statement to boast alike but it does prove, ion one hand, as to who he is and, on the other hand, this signifies as top what he thinks of himself so one can very well understand him that he is totally self-centered person who thinks and does whatever suits him without caring the least as to what others will say about him.

Many world leaders have condemned Putin for attacking Ukraine and they have told him to withdraw his troops who must go back to their barracks. Most of developed countries including US, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, to mention just a few have imposed so many sanctions against Russia so that it can feel the pinch and stop the war. These and so many other countries have blocked their air space for Russian aircrafts which has created great difficulties for Russian aircrafts to fly around because wherever they fly, they face blockage so turn off to other directions but where to is a big baffling question. Russia’s foreign accounts and assets have been frozen giving too much pain to its economy because now it is very difficult for Russia to trade with different countries and such like economic blockade will suffocate its economy.

Russian forces have attacked so many different cities and towns through bombing resulting in that some of the buildings were not only razed to ground but some portion of some buildings even caught fire because of heavy bomb attacks. Missiles also have been fired on many buildings including residential, as well, whereby so many innocent lives including children and senior citizens have lost their lives. Huge number of residents including expatriates as well had to flee from Ukraine and ever since airport is closed so the refugees had no option but to go by road only. It is figured out that 640,000 people of all nationalities had to quit Ukraine and took refuge in the neighboring countries. Refugees breakdown Poland received the maximum numbering 377,000 (50,000 per day) Hungary 89,561 Moldova 56,064 Slovakia 46,868 Romania 38,461 Belarus 329. They are housed in temporary shelters and tents and facing lot of hardships because they could not bring anything from their homes except one suit case and it is very cold as temperature runs minus 1 to 3 and therefore proper heating in needed to be comfortable. The latest figure us that as many as 51,797 people have moved out from these countries to other countries.

Khakriv is the 2nd biggest city of the country which has been worst hit so far where even street fights are noticed meaning by that at some points it had been one to one. Many buildings and important structures have been totally or partially have been destroyed. Freedom Center which house many government offices also has been hit which is located right in the heart of the city. This the 2nd largest city-center in whole Europe itself signifies how much colossal damage has been inflicted but yet locals have not surrendered before the invaders rather, on the contra, they are putting up very strong opposition. The city is out of electricity and streets are littered with debris but whatever difficulties Ukrainians are facing at the hands of Russians, they are not at all giving in and, as a result, the invaders are a bit worried as well since they had never ever expected to face such a strong and resolute resistance from them.

Russian army officers and Ukrainian army officers met in Belarus to discuss in depth as to what could me the possibility of mutually agree on some points so that they can thrash out the possibility and agree to any mutually agreed logistics to effect ceasefire but, as the bad luck had it, nothing could be agreed upon because Russia dictated most tough conditions favoring Russia with no consideration so far as Ukraine is concerned. They said maybe we will meet again but I have my very serious doubts that Ukraine could agree to all that what Russia dictates. Ukraine has asked their men from 18 to 60 to remain in the country instead of leaving the country so that they can help army to fight against Russia.

Russians have deployed as long as 40 miles (64 kilometers) military convoy all around the capital establishes without slightest doubt that it will be very much catastrophic if such a might strikes the capital where total he leadership of the country is found. Russians have destroyed main TV center housing so many media channels so that media coverage could be stopped and the world cannot see as to what colossal damage has occurred so far.

President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdullah Shahid has issued a statement saying that such like war is very much unwanted as the general masses are facing the brunt and the simple prudence demands that the two countries involved in such like war activities must lay down their arms and sit down before a table to discuss as to what are their problems and what are their solutions so that the peace and tranquility be restored again.

UN Secretary General Antonio Gutrres has shown very great concern over such like worst conditions which is very much detrimental to international peace which is the main purpose for which UN has been established and, therefore, he has very much appealed in the name of the peace that the belligerent activities going on between Russia and Ukraine must be stopped forthwith as such like war activities have never ever been appreciated and instead nothing but meaningful dialogue between both the countries can fetch the desirable results in the greater interest of not just Ukraine and Russia nut the world as a whole.

It is very much regretted that all those countries which are promising to side militarily with Ukraine must have done it before the start of the war so that Putin had been awed not to start the war but alas that opportune is already wasted otherwise Ukraine has not suffered so heavily in any case

Prime Minister Imran Khan who was in Moscow meeting President Putin while discussing the matters of mutual interests of Pakistan and Russia has said that nothing but negotiations between the parties have always been appreciated and he believed and stressed that same must be the case when it comes to Russia and Ukraine. Unluckily, war between Russia and Ukraine started the same day when PM Imran was returning to Islamabad.

Under such like international pressure and condemnation, Russian President Putin is very much cornered and has not so many options left to rely upon except being the biggest exporter of gas, it can stop supplying gas to trouble all those countries which are very much dependent on Russian gas but it must not be forgotten that stopping supplying gas will hurt Russia from economic point of view particularly now when its accounts have been frozen in all different countries and economic sanctions have been imposed. Putin has put its nuclear weapons on high alert signifying that in sheer desperation when Putin is left with no other option then may even resorts to trigger nuclear weapon which is very much risky in any case but it is anticipated that it may explode it over the North Sea between Britain and Denmark and wait for its repercussions and effects.

Summing up, Putin has very clearly given a message to others that if any country helps militarily Ukraine then Russia will teach such a horrific lesson to the country which it had never ever even thought of but at the same time it is very much in the offing that Putin after feeling so much pinch, he may eventually turns out to be still the more belligerent and explosive showing his military might which simply cannot be ruled out but, nevertheless, such venturing war on Ukraine has a price tag as well

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait /zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com

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