To understand the situation surrounding the Russian-Ukrainian war, it is important to pay attention to the goals pursued by Putin. Public activist Valeriy Pekar identifies two main goals:
1. Elimination of Ukrainian statehood and identity: Putin is open to various options, ranging from the re-creation of the Ukrainian SSR to scenarios similar to Belarus under Lukashenko or Chechnya under Kadyrov. Even the division of Ukraine is possible.
2. The split in Europe and its relations with the US: Putin seeks to show the weakness of democracy and establish Russia as a global center of power.
These goals underlie the Kremlin’s key demands: “denazification” (a term that can mean anything) and demilitarization of Ukraine. Fulfilling these demands would contribute to the first goal, and subsequently the second.
Pekar notes that in Ukraine there is a lack of effective communication between the authorities and society and discussions about what to consider a victory or defeat, as well as where our red lines are. The issue of the 1991 borders is no longer relevant and even harmful, as it creates the impression that Ukraine is fighting for territories, and not for people, state or identity. Such a position looks anachronistic for the world community, which does not understand why we should fight for territories in the 21st century.
Western countries fear Russia’s defeat as much as they fear Ukraine’s defeat, because they don’t know how to end the war without Russia’s defeat. All hope for Putin’s death is futile, because his possible successor, the supposed “Putin 2.0,” will continue the war.
Pekar also has an opinion on Boris Johnson, who was once a great friend of Ukraine. He believes that the former leader of the British Conservative Party, who suffered a defeat in the elections, is eager to return to the front pages of the news and become visible again.
