As each day passes you can’t but think the game is over for Ukraine. The trumpeting by the ‘The coalition of the willing’,a group of some 31 countries who pledged to strengthen support for Ukraine against Russiaisbut a smoke screen, created more for the domestic politics of those nations, than in any solid verifiable bootson the ground support for Ukraine.
On 24th August Ukraine celebrated its24th Independence Day. The very notion of independence comes into disrepute once you look at the detail of where this nation is today.
President Trump nearly broke President Zelensky’s arms off as it was twisted and turned in all directions until he relented to behave himself. In the end, Zelensky all but sold off many of his nation’s rare earth treasures to America for their continued support. The coalition of the willing scrambled like vulturesin their greed to get some left over crumbs. And whilst the west carve up Ukraine for their own pleasure, Russia maintained its attack and now control at least 20% of Ukraine.
Therefore, watching Zelensky taking part in their Independence Day event one was left with just one question, ‘independence from whom and for whom?’. As far as I can make out, he has given up most of his nation to either American commercial interests, or to Russia.
Historically, there is controversy as to the origins of Ukraine and its relationship with Russia. What we do know is the Russian Empire from the 17th century onwardsabsorbed large parts of Ukrainian territory. In due course the Soviet Union (1922–1991)and in 1922, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was established, and Ukraine became a constituent part of the Soviet Union. This period of Soviet (Russian) control lasted until 1991.When the Soviet Union collapsed, there was bound to be realignment by the new nations with their newly acquired independence. However, there was an understanding that they should remain neutral, but this over the past few decades has clearly been breached. As each of these nations became closer to the EU and the west, the higher the desperation in Moscow. When discussions about joining NATO became the norm, Moscow could see the west’s global power domination strategy to encircle Russia from the west. America, and even central Europe, were making sure there was ample land mass between them and Russia. The area and its people they would accept as collateral damage should the need arise.
Estimates vary, but according to Trumpmore than $350 billion has been given to Ukraine by western nations. And according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, when we compare aid by nations as a proportion of their GDP it gives some interesting insight. It turns out Denmark and Estonia are the biggest donor’sprorata. Look where the USA.
Table 1:
The benevolence of nations can be applauded, or should we take another look and consider their true motivation? Look at the chart below, it tells us of the top 10 nations and their contributions to Ukraine on the military front:
Table 2:
Some nations are having a great time. Another war, and another opportunity to sell arms and keep their indigenous defence industries serviced with funding and securing local jobs.Wars for the west have become the conduit through which they make billions, save jobs and enslave nations in a debt cycle. There is no such thing as benevolence.
This gets more interesting when you compare what was spent on the gulf war as a % of GDP by various nations, and what they are spending on Ukraine. Rough estimate suggests that three times more was spent in attacking Iraq, than is being spent in protecting Ukraine.
Table 3:
And with any war, there are always refugees. The chart below tells us where most of the Ukrainian refugees are going. Look where France is, proportionatelynot pulling their weight in this war, though always seen at every major summit as one of the top EU leaders!
Table 4:
Kiel Institute for the World Economy datasets have been very useful, and I give due acknowledgement to them. I have used them to show that there is more to this war than meets the eye. Every western entity has known since the war started that the only possible way to peace is by Ukraine ceding land, and in not being seen as a NATO threat.
President Zelensky has not done his nation any favours. History will show that he sacrificed his nation and his people for nothing. However, Trump wanted all the fanfare of a deal to himself. In his zeal for a deal, he now looks beholden to Putin who on American soil taught him what it’s like to be a leader.
The game is ending in Ukraine because the west is now tired of it. They will carve the spoils and leave Ukraine in a sad state. In time the people of Ukraine will realise how they were exploited by the west, as well as their very own. Let this be a lesson for all other smaller nations who rely on the US and the west. Just remember, you will be nothing more than collateral damage in any future power play.
