Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its threat of war on Ukraine is condemnable. The use of Ukraine as a theatre for the tussle between Russia on the one hand and the EU and US on the other is a blow to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The uprising that forced Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych to flee was fuelled in part by genuine popular resentment against the corrupt and repressive leader. But the uprising was also backed by right wing forces backed by the EU and the US. For some time now, the US and EU have been seeking to expand their influence in Ukraine. One of the key aims has been to use Ukraine to bring the US-NATO military presence closer to Russia’s borders.
While Russia’s threats of war must be denounced and resisted, the double standards of the US and European countries towards this must be exposed. The latter have brazenly carried out illegal wars and occupations, and have no right to sit in judgement on Russia. But the fighters for peace and democracy worldwide, who have consistently resisted all war-mongering and occupations, must demand immediate de-escalation of the conflict, withdrawal of Russia from Crimea, and also an end to attempts by the EU and US to expand NATO in the region.
