In the first few weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, most of the conversation in the West centred on how quickly the Russians would overrun the country and whether Putin would use nuclear weapons. As of late, the question I am now most frequently asked in interviews and private conversations is “How will this war end?”.
Have you been subjected to the numerous vile conspiracy theories about what Putin is trying to stop from continuing to happen in the Ukraine and beyond?
Until human nature changes to one of being more enlightened human beings will continue to engage in these acts of madness perpetrated by political leaders on all sides with massive, out of control egos. There are no ‘good guys’ in politics despite what we are fed by the media. Thank you Konstantin for your excellent insights.
According to A. Illarionov this Winter War was stopped because of American and UK war ships being on their way to Finland. If current American president and British PM were more active in their military help, then this "Summer" war could end much faster and much less people had to die.
Has too much blood been spilled to make a negotiated settlement hard/impossible? In WWI, Germany "lost" the war in November 1914 with the failure of the plan to take Paris. So much blood had been spilled that neither side could consider a settlement. The result four years of grinding slaughter until Germany could no longer continue, with the allies almost defeated in March 1918.
Konstantin, I learn so much from you. Simo shows just how much impact one person can have on history. I hope you named or will name one of your children Isaac; if it's a girl you could call her Isaacna.
It makes you question if there will EVER be an alternative to the irresistible tendency to “colonise”. Even after so many decades of relative calm (during which we have still seen significant bloodshed in former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine etc) all the evidence is there that the USA, China and Russia still seek to bolster their defences [as a minimum] - if not annex selected territories - whilst all the multi-$billion world bodies like the UN simply make vaguely admonishing grumbles from the sidelines.
It sadly tends to lead you to the conclusion that the last 30 years in Europe have been a period “in remission” - rather than a sign of further conflict-free periods to come. Especially with the absolute dearth of visionary international leaders at the top of any of the political systems who are in any way committed to non-expansionism in general - or even any power-balancing strategy at all short of Nuclear Restraint, and the illusion of Carbon Net Zero.
As far as your reading of the current Ukraine situation goes, I defer to your greater local understanding - but I suspect the inevitable “negotiated settlement” will be imperfect as it will require neither leader to lose face significantly. Ukraine WILL inevitably need to digest a small territorial loss - as the Finns did - but for me the Crimean land-bridge may well be the critical sticking point.
Have you been subjected to the numerous vile conspiracy theories about what Putin is trying to stop from continuing to happen in the Ukraine and beyond?
Until human nature changes to one of being more enlightened human beings will continue to engage in these acts of madness perpetrated by political leaders on all sides with massive, out of control egos. There are no ‘good guys’ in politics despite what we are fed by the media. Thank you Konstantin for your excellent insights.
God bless all the 'Isaacs', and their families, who are suffering at the hands of Putin and his supporters.
According to A. Illarionov this Winter War was stopped because of American and UK war ships being on their way to Finland. If current American president and British PM were more active in their military help, then this "Summer" war could end much faster and much less people had to die.
Has too much blood been spilled to make a negotiated settlement hard/impossible? In WWI, Germany "lost" the war in November 1914 with the failure of the plan to take Paris. So much blood had been spilled that neither side could consider a settlement. The result four years of grinding slaughter until Germany could no longer continue, with the allies almost defeated in March 1918.
Konstantin, I learn so much from you. Simo shows just how much impact one person can have on history. I hope you named or will name one of your children Isaac; if it's a girl you could call her Isaacna.
It makes you question if there will EVER be an alternative to the irresistible tendency to “colonise”. Even after so many decades of relative calm (during which we have still seen significant bloodshed in former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine etc) all the evidence is there that the USA, China and Russia still seek to bolster their defences [as a minimum] - if not annex selected territories - whilst all the multi-$billion world bodies like the UN simply make vaguely admonishing grumbles from the sidelines.
It sadly tends to lead you to the conclusion that the last 30 years in Europe have been a period “in remission” - rather than a sign of further conflict-free periods to come. Especially with the absolute dearth of visionary international leaders at the top of any of the political systems who are in any way committed to non-expansionism in general - or even any power-balancing strategy at all short of Nuclear Restraint, and the illusion of Carbon Net Zero.
As far as your reading of the current Ukraine situation goes, I defer to your greater local understanding - but I suspect the inevitable “negotiated settlement” will be imperfect as it will require neither leader to lose face significantly. Ukraine WILL inevitably need to digest a small territorial loss - as the Finns did - but for me the Crimean land-bridge may well be the critical sticking point.