The War Between Ukraine and Russia Will Last Longer
For those who desire peace between Russia and Ukraine, the latest military activity is deflating. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian military took credit for a long-range drone strike on Russian airplanes. The campaign is named Spider’s Web. Zelensky is quoted as claiming that 117 drones were used, striking Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers, causing damage to 34% of Russia’s planes.
The recent attack has been heralded as Russia’s Pearl Harbor. The Ukrainian offensive was 18 months in the making. The drones were secretly taking over the border by trucks with retractable roofs and parked close to the airfields where the Russian planes were housed. The attack will hamstring Russia’s ability to conduct long-range strikes within Ukraine.
This happened while supposed peace talks between the two countries were being held in Istanbul. The initial stages of the talks were focused on the terms of a ceasefire. Monday’s talks only lasted an hour, which is not enough time for a substantial talk about the pause of military action. The recent drone attack sets the progress back further.
Even if the two countries agree on a ceasefire by some miracle, the probability of it lasting is remote. The two dictators have long dismissed the fact that countless lives have been lost, and the killing of more is not a top priority for either of them. Their continued loss of life appears not to be a greater concern for them because it is becoming clear that the war will be fought differently.
The drone attack will usher in the next phase of war between the two countries. Since Ukraine is running out of age-appropriate men to fight the war, the only way in which Ukraine can keep fighting is by using unmanned means such as drones. Russia will retaliate similarly, with the exception that Russia has nuclear power.
Zelensky has proven obstinate in the peace process, once agreeing to conditions and shortly after pulling back. He can vacillate because, at present, he still has Europe’s financial backing. Without the support, he would have few options and would have to be more earnest in peace talks.
On the other side of the equation is Putin. The latest attack on Russia, causing approximately $7 billion in damage to Putin’s war machine, has embarrassed him and pushed him into a corner. There is little doubt that Putin will retaliate against the strike; the only unknown is how much and how destructive. Putin is a despot, and to justify his invasion of Ukraine to his people, his motivation to pummel Ukraine is high.
Instead of de-escalating, the war between Ukraine and Russia is accelerating with fewer ground troops and more aerial warfare. If there is no curb put on either country, the possibility of even low-grade nuclear weapons could be unleashed. The possible scenario is treading on dangerous ground.
Bringing peace to the region is complicated, given the past and future aggression we are bound to see. The United States can be the leader in this endeavor. War costs money; if you want it to stop, money must dry up. This is why we are calling on the United States to work on drying up the funds simultaneously for both countries.
Senate members are calling for harsher sanctions, a way to make it harder economically for Russia to continue with the war. Regarding Ukraine, the position of the United States should be to put pressure on Europe to curtail its funding, forcing Ukraine to come in earnest to peace talks.
If peace is to come, other countries must step up with a willingness to stop the carnage. In the meantime, keep the hopes of peace between Ukraine and Russia in your prayers.