Putin’s War and beyond
Putin’s War and beyond

Author(s): J Scott Younger
Subject(s): Security and defense, Peace and Conflict Studies, Russian Aggression against Ukraine, Russian war against Ukraine
Published by: Mednarodni inštitut za bližnjevzhodne in balkanske študije IFIMES
Keywords: Russia; Ukraine; war; 2022; situation;
Summary/Abstract: The war in Ukraine goes painfully on. After 4 months, the Russians show slow gains and have taken much of the Donbas, E Ukraine. In fact, if we count Crimea and the land along the south coast as well, Russia has grabbed almost 20% of Ukraine land, and most of it the most valuable, including where the wheat is grown. The south coast, which involves Mariupol, is vital as the sea outlet to the country and it is being blockaded by the Russians. In the past few days, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, S Africa) have been meeting in China, hosted by Xi Jinping. The BRICS countries, total 40% of the world population and 20% of the world’s GDP, so they are a formidable bloc and forecast to become bigger and stronger. Currently, China and India are absorbing much of the oil and gas embargoed by the western powers so Russia is partially getting round that important component of the total block on trade. Perhaps that is why Vladimir Putin, along with his gains in the Donbas region, feels emboldened and having discussions with the Belorussian president, Alexander Lukashenko.

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