This week, the United Kingdom announced that it would escalate its reckless drive to arm Ukraine to the teeth, now confirming that it would deliver Storm Shadow missiles capable of reaching targets 300 km distant—far enough to reach deep into Russian territory. As Ben Wallace, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defense, said upon announcing the decision: these missiles “will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian sovereign territory,” i.e., Crimea—something the Russians will never tolerate. Lap dogs in the media were quick to jump, asking: Does this mean the US will be following suit?
Despite their intent to further embroil nations of the world in this conflict, as has often been the British gameplan, these weapons will have no effect on the overall outcome of the war, but will only serve to further sacrifice Ukrainians in a war they can never win—no matter what wild ravings Zelensky utters. Thus the war proceeds, “to the last Ukrainian,” in order to fulfill a dangerous and insane geopolitical war pushed by Western elites, aimed at destroying and dismantling Russia as a nation.
This all comes in the context of increased admissions that the vaunted counteroffensive may not live up to expectations, and that the true believers should instead shift their focus to the long run. As an article in Foreign Affairs put it Wednesday, Western policymakers “have placed undue emphasis on the upcoming offensive without providing sufficient consideration of what will come afterward.” They know they can’t win, but like fools, refuse to change course.
Peace must prevail! And in place of nuclear brinksmanship must be a new security and development architecture which seeks a common aim among all nations.
An interesting trend of diplomacy is afoot, likely in response to this glaring reality. China’s Foreign Minister has just made a series of diplomatic stops throughout Europe, now followed by a European tour by China’s Vice President. At the same time Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Vienna. Brazil’s Special Advisor to the President has also just travelled to Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky, following the recent phone call between Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Xinping. And further, the Vatican’s Secretary of State disclosed that channels in both Ukraine and Russia are in dialogue about the Pope’s “peace mission.”
Are peace-seeking nations, such as China and Brazil, working on breaking through on this urgent task? Very likely. Are imperial forces, dead-set on maintaining a death grip over the world, also working to sabotage these efforts and destroy anyone who gets in their way? Absolutely. But there are cracks in the dam, and the world is becoming more emboldened to reject this train towards a nuclear apocalypse and demand a different future.
The time is ripe for an active citizenry to act on this opening, now, before it is too late.
