Russia

Photo: A Ukrainian soldier firing a Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon. Credit: AP

The Ukraine War: Paving the Road to a World War with 'Peace Plans'?

Viewpoint by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies*

NEW YORK (IDN) — On December 27, 2022, both Russia and Ukraine issued calls for ending the war in Ukraine, but only on non-negotiable terms that they each know the other side would reject.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba proposed a "peace summit" in February 2023 to be chaired by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, but with the precondition that Russia must first face prosecution for war crimes in an international court.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 28 December 2022

Photo: People take shelter inside a subway station from missile attacks in Kiev, Ukraine on October 11, 2022 when sirens sound across Ukrainian cities as Russian strikes continue. Credit: IC

Winter Stalemate of Russia-Ukraine Conflict 'Not Sign of Peace'

Neither Side is Willing to Compromise

By Global Times Staff Reporters

BEIJING (IDN) — In the 10th month of the Russia-Ukraine conflict when military operations are scaling down in the freezing winter, observers see a slim chance of negotiations for peace in the near future as neither side is ready to compromise to figure out a common ground for talks.

: Europe Editor; THE WORLD; Russia; 19 December 2022

Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at Ukraine-NATO-Warsaw-Institute. Source: President.gov.ua

A NATO-Ukrainian Proposal for European Security

By Vladimir Socor *

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — The Ukrainian Presidential Office envisages a system of international security guarantees vis-a-vis Russia that would answer Kyiv’s post-war requirements. The guarantees would be provided by willing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, albeit, at the moment, short of NATO membership, this would potentially clear Ukraine’s path to membership in due course.

: Ramesh Jaura; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 17 December 2022

Photo: Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda who co-opted into Russia’s conflict. Source: Mail&Guardian

Lusaka Demands Probe of Zambian Student Killed on Battlefield in Ukraine

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK | LUSAKA (IDN) — Zambian officials are seeking an explanation of the death of Lemekhani Nathan Nyirenda, a former student of nuclear engineering in Moscow, who died in September fighting on the side of the Russian army.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian paramilitary Wagner group, acknowledged that they recruited the Zambian student from a Russian prison but claimed he volunteered for the job.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 10 December 2022

Photo: Russian imports have dropped sharply, reflecting the decision of multinational companies to sever ties with Russia. Courtesy: The New York Times.

Sanctions Hit Russia as Moscow Attempts to Overcome Them

Viewpoint by John P. Ruehl

This article was produced by Globetrotter. John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S., the UK, and the EU placed major sanctions on Russia to constrict its economy and restrain its war effort. Having been updated several times since, these sanctions have compounded the effects of the previous sanctions placed on Russia in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 06 December 2022

Ukraine War Should Prompt Us to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN) — In the year 2000 President Vladimir Putin made his own contribution to solving the nuclear weapons imbroglio. Moscow, he said in a speech, was prepared to drastically reduce its stockpile of nuclear missiles. Putin's call was not just for further cuts than the U.S. suggested ceiling of 2,500 for each side but for reductions far below Moscow's previous target of 1,500. (At present Russia has around 6,000 warheads, and the U.S. has 5,400.)

: Jonathan Power; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 22 November 2022

Photo: A Twitter shared photo by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force of Japanese Self Defense Forces holding the International Fleet Review 2022 with the participation of naval vessels and aircraft from 13 countries. Credit: Anadolu Agency.

North Korea Abandons US and Aligns with China and Russia

Viewpoint by Jackie Cabasso

The writer is the Executive Director of the Western States Legal Foundation, based in Oakland, California.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, USA (IDN) — If our attention wasn’t riveted on the midterm election results and Russia’s continuing nuclear threats in Ukraine, we would be rightly alarmed about rising nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It’s a very dangerous situation and one that presents extraordinary challenges.

: Opinion Editor; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 13 November 2022

Photo: The P5 countries (France, China, United States, United Kingdom, Russia) met in Paris on December 2-3, 2021 to discuss their contributions to the 10th NPT Review Conference. Credit: Permanent representation of France to the Conference on Disarmament.

Avoiding Arms Racing and the Possibility of Nuclear Catastrophe

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is the Executive Director of the Arms Control Association (ACA). The following text was published in the organization’s monthly journal, Arms Control Today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Over the long, dangerous course of the nuclear age, the easing of tensions and resolution of crises between the nuclear-armed states have relied not only on good luck and self-restraint, but on effective, leader-to-leader dialogue.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 04 November 2022

Image: Residential area, Saltova, Ukraine - ZagAlex/Shutterstock

What's Next in the Ukraine War?

Viewpoint by Herbert Wulf

This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission.

BONN (IDN) — In order to find an answer to the difficult question about the future of Ukraine, it is worth analysing the two extreme and polarised positions currently propagated in Western Europe. On the one hand, there are those who want to provide Ukraine with more and unrestricted support, especially military aid. And on the other hand, there are those who argue that further arms deliveries to Ukraine only prolong the war.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 03 November 2022

Photo: The UN Security Council meets on the situation in Ukraine, 27 February 2022. UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Ukraine: The Russian Nuke Threat

Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte

The writer is a former High Representative of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

NEW YORK (IDN) — The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, described by Moscow as a “special military operation”, entered its eighth month without an end in sight, and there is no sign of willingness among the parties involved to start serious negotiations that might lead to a cease-fire followed by arrangements for a durable peace.