Vladimir Putin has made many aggressive moves in the Ukraine and Crimean crisis, but none more surprising than his announcement to mobilize 80,000 troops. His reasoning behind this? To protect Russians and Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.
Putin’s latest move
With tensions running high between the West and Russia, Putin has taken a bold move by mobilizing his troops and threatening nuclear retaliation. This move is likely to increase the pressure on the West, who are already feeling the heat from Putin’s recent actions in Crimea and Ukraine.
What do you think of Putin’s latest move? Is it a wise move or a dangerous one? Let us know in the comments below.
What is Russia’s next move?
After a week of saber-rattling and military posturing, it appears that Russia is preparing for some sort of conflict. Over the past few days, Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered the mobilization of troops and hinted at the possibility of nuclear retaliation if his country is attacked.
Critics have accused Putin of trying to provoke a confrontation in order to distract from domestic problems, but whatever his motives, it seems clear that Russia is now on a war footing. With tensions running high, it’s impossible to predict what will happen next.
The situation is particularly worrisome given the fact that both Russia and the United States have nuclear weapons. If things escalate, there is a real risk of a devastating nuclear exchange. Let’s hope that cooler heads prevail and that this crisis can be resolved without resorting to such extreme measures.
The rationale for Russia’s offensive
Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Russia has been one of the main backers of the Assad regime. In September 2015, Russia began a air campaign in Syria, ostensibly to target the Islamic State (IS) group. However, Western governments and Syrian opposition groups have accused Russia of also targeting moderate rebel groups opposed to Assad, including some supported by the US and its allies.
Russia has long claimed that its intervention in Syria is aimed at combating terrorism and restoring stability to the country. However, observers have noted that Russia’s real motives in Syria are likely more complex. Some believe that Russia is using its military involvement in Syria as a way to project power and influence in the Middle East and beyond. Others argue that Russia is primarily concerned with protecting its interests in Syria, including its only naval base in the Mediterranean Sea and its longstanding alliance with the Assad regime.
Whatever Russia’s motives may be, there is no doubt that its intervention in Syria has had a major impact on the course of the conflict. With Russian support, Assad’s forces have regained control of key territory from rebel groups and IS. The Syrian government is now in a much stronger position than it was before Russia’s intervention.
As the conflict enters its eighth year
War with Ukraine: the consequences
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been steadily escalating its involvement. First it was covert support for separatist rebels, then it was the annexation of Crimea, and now it appears that Russia is directly intervening in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. This latest move by Putin is extremely dangerous and could have catastrophic consequences.
If Russia were to escalate further and actually start a full-blown war with Ukraine, the consequences would be devastating. Not only would there be massive loss of life, but also the risk of a nuclear exchange. Given that Russia has one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, this is a very real possibility.
In addition to the human cost, a war with Ukraine would also have a major impact on the global economy. With Russia being a major supplier of oil and gas, prices would almost certainly spike if there was a disruption in supplies. This would cause hardship for people all over the world and could potentially plunge us into another recession.
Clearly, Putin’s latest moves are extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Let’s hope that cooler heads prevail and that this situation can be resolved without any further escalation.
Putin’s sabre rattling
President Vladimir Putin’s latest moves have put the world on edge. First, he announced the mobilization of troops near the Ukrainian border, raising concerns of a potential invasion. Then, he threatened nuclear retaliation if the West were to intervene militarily in Ukraine.
Putin’s actions are clearly designed to intimidate and send a message that he is not to be messed with. But many believe that his rhetoric is only making the situation worse and increasing the likelihood of a clash between Russia and the West.
What do you think of Putin’s latest moves? Are they helpful or harmful? Let us know in the comments below.
Putin’s Nuclear Disarmament Treaty
In recent years, Vladimir Putin has taken several steps to reduce Russia’s nuclear arsenal. In 2009, he signed a treaty with the United States that limited each country to 1,500 nuclear warheads. That number was further reduces in 2010 when he ratified the New START agreement. Which set a limit of 1550 warheads for each nation.
In 2013, Putin announced that Russia would be destroying its stockpile of short-range nuclear weapons. This move was widely seen as a response to U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Eastern Europe. Which Putin has long oppose.
Most recently, in April of 2018, Putin announced that Russia would be withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). This 1987 agreement between the United States and Soviet Union prohibited the development and deployment of land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers. With Russia’s withdrawal from the INF, there is now no arms control agreement in place that covers land-based missiles.
Putin has justified these moves by citing U.S. noncompliance with arms control agreements and the deployment of missile defenses in Europe as threats to Russian security. He has also accused the United States of seeking to gain a military advantage over Russia
Opinions expressed by Texas Today contributors are their own.
