In the context of the Cold War & Russian strategies over the years, Europeans now have a conspiracy theory on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. Here is why they think Russia & Putin ultimate motive is to catch Europe & its movements in Ukraine have something to do with Europe’s territory.
With Crimea in Putin’s hand, as conflict has reached the point where Russia might face some hard sanctions from European Union & United Nations, Europeans came with another theory that Putin’s next stop is Europe.
The Russian military is moving gradually in Eastern Ukraine despite resistance from Ukrainian forces & international pressure. The casualties are increasing day by day as Russia takes over Ukraine territory. United Nations & European Union are avoiding the use of force to tackle Russia for its violation of human rights codes & forcefully capturing Ukraine. Why so? As in cold war prospect & Russia being a huge force & massive army, they are avoiding another war which might break out eventually if anyone from the outside opts to use force against Russia.
Political Analysts around the world are giving their prospect of why Putin is not retreating despite so many sanctions. Few think Putin was never been interested in Ukraine because there is no logic to that. Russia backed rebels in Eastern Ukraine at that time but later Putin’s stubbornness had got him deep into the issue that he can not figure a way out now. They argue he can’t benefit from this conflict in any way.
Some analysts think Putin is after Ukraine’s natural resources. Rightly so. Ukraine does possess coal & petroleum & had a Crimean Coast which is already captured by Russia. Now the question is about Putin’s political interests in Russia & the world.
Some political figures & analysts think that Putin is playing as a populist here. In 2013, when people questioned Putin’s regime for some reason & there was a possibility of people losing their confidence in Putin. The Russian President might have come with this populist approach. Some think of this approach in the Cold War context. They say Russia is trying to recapture Soviet Territories again. Putin however does look like trying to get the Russian glory of the past & Ukraine was a Soviet territory till 1991.
The argument of Europeans thinking Putin has a European plan doesn’t seem idiotic or utopian. There is still a possibility. The above-mentioned point of hungry Putin trying to regain the Russian glory of the past seems to fit here. What is next to Ukraine? The answer is Europe.
Ukraine-Russia conflict is majorly geographic & less political. Ukraine is wedged between Europe & Russia. Its population is Russian & Ukrainian. Some are pro-Russia, some are Pro Europe and some consider themselves Ukrainian and tend to resist Russia. The conflict did start with this divide in culture.
French President Macron was confident to mediate for the conflict and met Putin but there was no positive result after it. Meanwhile, the European Union did not take the mediation attempt of Macron positively.
“We are living, to my understanding, the most dangerous moment for security in Europe after the end of the Cold War,” said European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Now in times when the crises are all over the news that does justify their fear. Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, & Romania etc are right next to Ukraine. In such times when the world is showing appeasement towards Russia, European fear possesses some weight. But again, this is a conspiracy theory grounded on assumptions or maybe not.
