Mariupol port city under siege is about to fall and after its takeover by the Russian troops, the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine will get connected with the Donbas region in the East through a land link. With only central, western and northern parts free of the Russian ingress, and with two strategic ports of Crimea and Mariupol and half of the country in Russian control, it will become very difficult for Zolensky to function for long. The military and monetary aid being given by the US and EU is likely to decrease sooner than later.
Sanctions by the US have caused economic pains to Russia, but it couldn’t deter Putin from accomplishing its military objectives. Sanctions by the EU have proved devastating for the economies of Europe.
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Inflation is rampant in Europe and GDP growth has dropped up to 4%
Due to COVID 19 threat, China locked down Shanghai. It has given a body blow to the economic healths of the USA, Europe and Japan since they have large numbers of business and industrial enterprises in Shanghai, which have been shut down. Whether the shut down of Shanghai by China was genuine, or a reaction to harsh sanctions imposed upon Russia by the US and EU is anyone’s guess.
Much to the chagrin of the US, the EU Commission has allowed European countries to buy oil and gas from Russia in rubles which is a big victory for Russia and a big setback for the US. It is the beginning of the end of dollars monopoly. If Russia and China manage to export and import oil and gas in rubles and yuan’s, it would hasten the death of dollars.
Biden was sure to cow down Putin under the heavyweight of a series of crippling sanctions and slanderous media campaigns to disrepute him. He was also hoping to make Ukraine another graveyard for Russia and for that purpose the US, NATO and UK have been sending heavy consignments of sophisticated missiles, anti-tank and anti-air weapons to Kiev as well as financial services. Refugees are being handled with lot of care and love to make them comfortable. The diehards may keep dying as has been the case in the last stronghold of steel plant complex in Mariupol, but they can neither contain nor push back the invaders.
Biden’s stance
In his exuberance to defeat Russia, Biden as well as European powers have made Ukraine a sacrificial lamb. They are constantly egging on Zolensky to keep fighting till the end and are instilling in him the hope that the victory will be his. The provokers are not picking up the courage to send forces into Ukraine but are provoking Ukrainians to fight to the death to push out the next door giant which has all the numerical, material and technological advantages and has ruined most of the cities and defense infrastructure, inflicted heavy human losses, displaced millions and caused severe food and fuel shortages and disrupted supply chains and trade.
The prolonged COVID 19 followed by the ongoing Ukraine war will have a devastating impact on the global economy and it would take a very long time to get rid of the negative effects.
The irresponsible actions of the Biden regime have made the Russia-Ukraine conflict complicated and onerous. Its irrational acts have forced many countries to bear a series of heavy costs such as energy and food shortages, price hikes, and suspended production and exports. The USA has also got a dose of its own medicine.
The writer is retired Brig Gen, defence & security analyst, international columnist, author of five books, 6th book under publication, expresses his views on TV, Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Director Measac Research Centre. asifharoonraja@gmail.com.
The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.