2024-04-06 15:29:59
Photo: Jorge Luis Borges
Text: Hugo León
Two years and one day have passed since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Putin baptized “Special Operation” and which at times has had the world in suspense and on the brink of a far-reaching conflict.
As the weeks passed, the Russian attack slowed to a halt and what no one thought possible became a reality: Ukraine held on, expelled the attacker from surrounding kyiv and even launched a counteroffensive to regain territory.
Behind the Ukrainian military effort lie billions of dollars sent by the United States and euros from the European Union, as well as “Made in NATO” military equipment. On the Russian side, although it is not known how many millions the campaign has cost, it is known that the Kremlin has left hundreds of thousands dead in the attacked land, according to North American intelligence sources.
Of course, Ukraine has also paid a high price in human lives, not only on the battlefields but also with attacks on its cities and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, both countries have constantly accused each other of terrorism and various war crimes. Furthermore, the rhetoric of diplomats is that of “regime” and “dictatorship”, and at the international level, as expected, Western countries have aligned themselves with the Ukrainian cause, while China, India, Iran, Cuba and other countries that They usually orbit around Russia, they support Moscow, at least diplomatically.
On the other hand, according to international media, both Iran and North Korea have sent weapons and drones to Moscow for their campaign in Ukraine.
And all of this, two years and one day later, there is not even the slightest hint of an end to the conflict in sight, nor any attempts to start a peace process.
Furthermore, according to international analysts, there is no real solution possible without a change of government in one of the two countries at war. In this sense, Putin is already looking ahead to his next presidential candidacy, and in kyiv, Zelensky still has his mandate left and the Ukrainian government does not believe that it is positive to hold elections in time of war.
And if there were doubts that both sides are seeking victory and not necessarily peace, this weekend the Ukrainian president, in commemoration of the date of the Russian attack on the airport where the first combats took place to defend kyiv, He assured that his country “will win.”
The president of the European Commission and the prime ministers of Canada, Italy and Belgium, among other personalities from international politics, participated in the event.
«Any normal person wants the war to end. But none will allow Ukraine to end,” he added, saying that the conflict must end “on our terms” and a “just” peace.
That distant peace could mean one less problem for the world, also burdened by the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine and many other confrontations that date back years, many of which include regions heavily armed with nuclear weapons.