New Delhi: Whether anyone truly wins or loses in a war? Whether war is justified in this modern era? Should there even be war?
Please note that I am not talking about the war against terrorism, as terrorism must be eradicated because terrorists are the devils of this modern era. I am speaking here about wars between two civilised societies/countries with wonderful people—such as the war currently ongoing between Russia and Ukraine.
As rightly said by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: “THIS IS NOT AN ERA OF WAR.” The statement has been appreciated and acknowledged by the entire world. Yet, despite this universal acceptance, why is this war still not ending? This remains a matter of concern.
When we hear about war between two nations, it may sometimes appear fascinating or exciting to some, or even an opportunity—or to some as an issue of economy, market strategy, and trade sensex.
Dear World, the actual meaning of war and its consequences are truly realised only by three categories of human beings:
- The Army, who fight for their nation;
- Their families; and
- The general civilians who are affected by war.
Ask them, and you will understand what war really is.
It is true that India and Russia share a strong bond, but at the same time, as Indians, we equally hold love and respect for the people of Ukraine. In fact, our culture believes in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—we treat the whole world as our family.
India—Bharat—is one of the oldest civilisations on earth. A perusal of India’s history shows that some of the highest genocides faced globally were endured by India. Yet despite that, our country has always promoted love, humanity, and tolerance. It is also equally true that we believe in the verse:
“Ahimsa Parmo Dharma, Dharma Hingsha Tathaiva Cha.”
It means that in order to save and promote humanity, our primary purpose is non-violence, but to establish non-violence, violence or sacrifice may sometimes be necessary. For example, India has been fighting terrorism, and in order to eradicate it, we must fight so that violence ends.
In our country, we give special honour to our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for Mother India. We are proud of our Army, who protect us from evil and do not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the motherland. Every Army personnel in India is regarded as the most valuable and precious asset of our nation—proud of them. I also extend gratitude to the democratic society of India and our Constitution, which protects the right to express oneself and the right to live with human dignity.
Coming back to the present war between Russia and Ukraine—today, not only India but the entire world, especially democratic nations, are deeply concerned and want the war to stop so that peace may be restored.
On one side, I appreciate the Army personnel of both Russia and Ukraine for sacrificing their lives for their motherland, as it is their duty. But what about us? What should be our duty? Our duty should be to work towards stopping this war so further human loss can be avoided. We are concerned for civilians of both nations, as well as for the soldiers and their families. Remember, only the one who loses a loved one understands the true pain of loss. So please, let us stand together to stop this war.
But one question arises—how did this war start, and who is responsible? Are some countries, leaders, or groups not interested in stopping the war because it benefits them economically through arms sales or “deals”? Or is it the result of confusion, geopolitics, or ego among certain nations? I will briefly highlight some points, as I want to understand the genuine reasons behind this war.
After the breakup of the USSR, Ukraine became a sovereign nation and adopted democracy. Russia, after a turbulent phase, stabilised under the leadership of President Putin and prospered significantly. Everything was going well until 2014, when Crimea was annexed by Russia. This led to unrest and revolt in Ukraine, as people felt that the then elected President of Ukraine was a puppet of Russia.
Thus, Ukrainians elected a new President who was perceived as pro-West. But due to rising corruption and frustration, Ukrainian citizens elected Mr. Zelensky in 2019—a comedian by profession who had recently entered politics. Was it the fault of the Ukrainian people? I say “No.” But did this decision have consequences? I say “Yes.”
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the U.S. election. It is said that various factors contributed to his loss—firstly, arms dealers and the deep state, who did not favour him because he was a nationalist with the motto “America First and Peace in the World.” Secondly, COVID-19. Thirdly, Trump’s own unpredictable speech and actions. The immediate trigger was his response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
After Biden came to power, it appeared that Zelensky fell under his influence. There was a renewed need for the U.S. to sell weapons—and NATO re-entered the picture. Suddenly, Zelensky began cutting ties with Russia, revising trade agreements, and imposing taxes. Under alleged influence from Biden, Zelensky expressed his desire to join NATO. Russia strongly opposed this, as NATO’s presence on the Russian border was considered a threat to Russia’s national security. Russia asserted that during the disintegration of the USSR, it was orally agreed that Ukraine would never join NATO—while NATO, the U.S., and Ukraine denied the existence of any such agreement.
There was also a meeting between Biden and Putin on 16 June 2021, but no one knows what transpired behind closed doors. In 2022, an interview of a President of a democratic nation claimed that Ukraine had been preparing for war since 2014, though the video was later removed from YouTube, making attribution impossible.
So the question is: Did the war stem from events in 2014, or was it a result of provocation? Acting under this, Putin initiated what he termed “military intervention” on 24 February 2022. In December 2022, Putin referred to the conflict as a “war” for the first time.
Since then, the world has witnessed this ongoing war. The question arises—are genuine efforts being made to stop it? Despite Putin expressing readiness for negotiation, why are there frequent U-turns from Zelensky? Why is there disagreement among NATO nations themselves? What is going on in their minds? It is difficult to assess.
It is unfortunate to see that two great leaders of two major democratic nations—President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy—are acting in ways that do not help the resolution of the conflict, even though they could be significant factors in ending the war.
However, it is heartening to see that citizens of democratic nations, including those within NATO, are protesting against the war and raising slogans against further arms supply and foreign involvement. This is truly appreciable.
There was great hope when Donald Trump, during his 2024 presidential campaign, stated:
“If I become President, I will stop the war within 72 hours.”
This statement had immense impact and significantly contributed to his electoral success. American citizens, including many who did not vote for him in 2020, supported him this time. This reflects the spirit of democracy and demonstrates that the wonderful people of the United States are not only concerned about their own nation but also about world peace and global development. This makes the U.S. a great democracy—and it is considered prosperous today because of its citizens. Hats off to them.
But all expectations were shattered when Trump, instead of stopping the war, became busy making “deals” with Zelensky and appeared to focus on Ukraine’s resources. Although he achieved his personal goal of winning the election, he disappointed citizens of the U.S. and the world who hoped the war would end.
I have been personally following Trump since his first term. He used to be seen as a strong leader and nationalist, though known for his uncontrolled speech—as seen during the Black Lives Matter campaign. But during the 2024 election campaign, two things changed: he controlled his words more carefully, and he displayed strong nationalism after surviving an assassination attempt during his rally.
However, after winning the 2024 election, Trump returned to his old habits—now tenfold—making unpredictable statements, confusing not only the world but even the U.S. He imposed unnecessary tariffs on India despite calling PM Modi his friend. Scholars criticised his move, stating:
“It took years to build trust and close relations with India, and now it risks collapsing because of Trump.”
It is indeed surprising that a leader once strongly against terrorism and described as a nationalist—even mentioned by our External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar—is now praising the pseudo-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the self-declared General (often criticised) Munir of Pakistan, a nation widely known for promoting terrorism.
Now the point is: how can we, including the people of Ukraine and Russia, stop this war?
It can only be stopped by the citizens of Ukraine, supported by the world, because Zelensky’s statements, Trump’s unpredictability, and NATO’s approach suggest the war is unlikely to end soon. The recent scandals emerging in Ukraine are also concerning.
MESSAGES
To the Citizens of Ukraine
My dear brothers and sisters of Ukraine, I do not want to delve further into why the war began. I am proud of your Army, who fought and sacrificed their lives for Ukraine. Now the time has come to stand together. There is an imminent need for a change in leadership. You, alongside your political leaders and scholars, can bring this change. Ukraine is a beautiful nation with wonderful people. This is just my viewpoint—I may be wrong—but believe me, the time has come to stop this war. The world is ready to support you. You may need to make compromises with your land, which is painful, but sometimes unavoidable. India, its government, and its scholars will wholeheartedly support you in rebuilding post-war.
To the People of Russia
My dear brothers and sisters of Russia, you know the deep and healthy relationship between India and Russia. President Putin, the world knows you have expressed readiness to stop the war. It is humbly requested that during negotiations, please consider giving Ukraine some fair space—after all, we are all humans first.
To Citizens of NATO Nations
My dear brothers and sisters, please continue your protests and encourage your leaders to find an immediate solution to stop this war. Only you can compel them to act.
To All Democratic Nations
My dear brothers and sisters, democracy is not built in a day. Our ancestors sacrificed tremendously to establish it. War, however, can destroy everything. So please unite to end this conflict.
[Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author, Dr. Anup Kumar Das, and do not necessarily represent the views or editorial position of LawStreet Journal].
