UNITED NATIONS (GOLDENHORN AGENCY)- Despite the fact that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strived, as political analysts observe, to maintain ‘balanced’ relations with Russia during the Ukraine conflict – the Turkish Foreign Ministry took a bold step on Saturday, in condemning Russia’s annexation of four breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The referendums held at gunpoint by Russian soldiers, are what the international community and the UN have labeled “sham referendums.” As the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, Russia’s decision “constitutes a grave violation of the established principles of international law, it cannot be accepted.” The ministry added: “In accordance with this stance adopted in 2014, we reject Russia’s decision to annex the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaphorizhzhia regions of Ukraine.”
Even prior to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leader had been eyeing annexing Ukrainian territory just as he did with Crimea in 2014. By pushing the envelope, Putin has isolated himself even further and especially with his own citizens who are fleeing Russia in droves after his conscription announcement that went into effect last week.
Erdogan has called Russia’s actions “unacceptable” and has been consistently steadfast in urging a return to negotiations that he hopes could lead to a peace deal. In a new twist, Israel has now offered to broker negotiations between Ukraine and Russia while Ukrainian President Zelensky said days ago, that as long as Russia annexes Ukrainian territory, no negotiations are possible.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Erdogan cited the Istanbul Grain Deal initiated by Turkiye and brokered by the UN, as proof that mediation works. There’s only one glitch, and that is, as analysts observe, Putin’s unwavering stance on conquering Ukraine, piece by piece.
What’s missing in this entire equation is the international community acting boldly on its outright moral and righteous indignation at Putin’s unabashed bulldozing of Ukrainian territorial integrity and national sovereignty. A proposal was made months ago, to suspend Russia from the UN Security Council, (UNSC). As long as Russia retains veto power as a member of the UNSC, it sends a clear signal to Putin that he can get away with crimes against humanity and stealing Ukraine.
Clearly, the war in Ukraine is way beyond the breaking point. So far, no amount of international condemnation has deterred Putin’s brazen and wanton moves in Ukraine. In a recent interview, retired U.S. Army General David Petraeus confirmed what many analysts have reiterated – “Putin is cornered.” The question is: now what? With Israel, Turkiye and France eager to mediate, it would appear that’s a positive sign there’s hope for a peace deal.
There’s only one problem: Putin isn’t interested in such a ‘peace deal’ when he has global powers that be – ‘hanging by their balls.’ As long as Putin calls the shots with the global energy sector taking its greatest hit ever – he gets to be the ultimate power broker which satisfies his insatiable narcissistic tendencies. If only the western world truly understood just how important Putin’s attention-seeking moves are to.him. In order to initiate any move forward in mediation, Putin wants to know what’s in it for him.
As UN Secretary,-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the referendums, commenting it “violates the UN Charter,” Putin remains ever the spoiled, wanton, errant child getting away with murder. In reality, Putin is stealing Ukraine, bit by bit and the worst part is – the international community is letting him.
