Day 219 ~ Russia Rushes To Annex Partially Occupied Regions Of Ukraine
Ukraine applies to be a member of NATO
How will the world respond to the signing ceremony where Russia has declared partially occupied regions in Ukraine as part of the Russian Federation? Today, there are several stories that will dominate:
Putin claiming that he is saving people by making the annexed regions part of Russia, thus he is protecting Russia (Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson.
The Russians attacked a convoy of cars in Zaporizhzhia, killing 25 people so far and wounding another 50 at least. The cars were on their way to the occupied area to deliver humanitarian aid and to pick up relatives who were trying to evacuate.
Zelenskyy held a National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine meeting, in response to the illegal annexation of the temporarily occupied regions in Ukraine. He announced that Ukraine has made a fast track application to become a member of NATO
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We are de facto allies already… we have already proven compatibility with alliance (NATO) standards. Today,Ukraine is applying to confirm it du jure. We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO.
As Russia tries to convince the world of the new borders within the Russian Federation, the Kremlin has stated that any attack in the regions would be considered an act of terrorism. It begs the questions as to how Ukrainians troops can be considered terrorists when they are liberating their own country?
Today, Russian escalated the war and raised the stakes. They are daring NATO to do more than supply weapons to Ukraine, and are trying to justify any attacks on Ukrainian troops as them defending Russian land and Russian citizens. what do we have to stop Putin? The useless UN and NATO that really aren’t quite sure what they should do. Both entities can post strong statements of condemnation, but to be frank, that hasn’t deterred the Russians, nor has it stopped missile attacks killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.
Russia claims that it is willing to talk, so long as they get to keep the land they invaded, while Ukraine is only willing to talk if Russia leaves the land that they have illegally taken by force and occupied.
Day 219 (30 September)
The world considers Putin/Russia's actions of the legal annexation of the temporarily occupied regions in Ukraine as an escalation of war. Russian propaganda has declared it is a new era for Ukrainians to join the Russians. The old who remember the USSR support the special military operation, while the younger generation who like western freedoms do not support it, and many have either left Russia, or have been detained while protesting.
Yesterday, Putin signed the documents declaring that the regions were now a part of Russia. effective from 30 September 2022. This is to justify the presence of Russian troops that are defending Russia. The decrees that Putin alleges the citizens voted for, declare that Russia declares their independence from Ukraine, and a wish to become a part of the Russian Federation.
World leaders have made statements stating that they condemn this illegal act, and they will only recognise the international borders, and not the ones that Russia is trying to create through illegal expansion through invasion. However, what do these statements do when autocratic regimes don’t care what democratic states think? How does this help Ukraine and the civilians whose lives have been turned upside down by the invasion? Slowly, NATO and other states are having to accept that escalation may mean more than supplying Ukraine with weapons to defend themselves.
In Zaporizhzhia, several missiles targeted a convoy headed for the occupied region and killed 25 civilians and has injured at least 50 more. The Russians have not justification for targeting the convoy who were delivering supplies and picking up relatives who have decided to leave the occupied territory. I have said this before, while I understand that people don’t wish to leave their homes, evacuating so late in the day puts themselves and others at great risk. The war has been going on for 7 months now, and while many hoped the Ukrainian troops would come and liberate them, if they had an opportunity to leave earlier, then why didn't they?
Zelenskyy held an emergency National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine meeting, where it was declared that Ukraine had made an application to join NATO under an accelerated procedure.
Ukraine knew that the West was reluctant to do more than make statements that said the annexation had no legitimacy, and like Crimea, the occupied region has suffered. It is now in the hands of NATO to decide how it wishes to respond to this move. They have supported Ukraine with words and some defensive actions, but NATO membership is the only way that Ukraine will ever be truly protected.
Zelenskyy also made a statement on negotiations with Russia:
It is obvious this is impossible with this Russian president. He does not know what dignity and honesty is. Therefore, we are ready for dialogue with Russia, which was another Russian president.
Putin has given his speech on the annexation of the occupied regions, claiming that Russia has a duty to protect the land with whatever means possible. Some interpret that as a nuclear threat. In the speech, Putin criticised and attacked the West, waiting them as the enemy. He made the speech in St George’s Hall of the Kremlin Palace in from of MPs and other officials. Putin also accused the West of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines, but what motivation would any state have for that? Not only is it a waste of gas, but the environmental impact has serious consequences, and no responsible state would gain from any act of sabotage.
In Putin’s speech, he has accused the West of trying to take over Russia and to cancel Russian culture. He also appeals to the families of the soldiers in Ukraine, telling them that they are fighting for a good cause. In addition, he states that those in the Donbas will become Russian citizens and that Russia will ‘provide safe living for all our people’, He goes on to say that Russia will rebuild towns and villages and develop infrastructure, and will make the land secure and refers to the Russian Federation as the great motherland. However, it was Russia that destroyed the villages and towns and has bombed the infrastructure, so they should rebuild it but when it is returned to Ukraine.
During the speech, he refers to history and that that land is the natural right of Russians who fought for it, claiming that the people voted for the result, and declared them as new subjects of the Russian Federation. Putin has always made reference to his belief that Ukraine was always a part of Russia and we must assume he is seeking to invade other regions of the country.
The streets were cleared for an evening of celebration where a concert will be held. Putin also claimed that it was up to Ukraine to negotiate, but the occupied territory would not be returned. That is why there will always be a stalemate, as Ukraine has a right to their own land and to fight and defend it, while Russia has no legitimate claim to the land. Zelenskyy said that he would be open to talks with Russia, but only with a different Russian president and the Russians must leave the occupied regions.
In the US, Major Jaimie Lee Henry and her wife Dr Anna Gabriellan have been arrested for conspiracy to pass on confidential military information to Russia. An undercover FBI operation has revealed that the doctors who worked in an army hospital base, Fort Bragg gained access to confidential records to give to the Russians. They also had information on military training that they were going to pass to the Russians as an act of patriotism towards Russia
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NATO has made a statement on the Nord Stream leaks, and that preliminary investigations indicate sabotage in international waters. It has also said that it will retaliate against any attacks, in order to defend the members of NATO if they are under threat of attack.
While the politicians make statements and sign unless bits of paper, the Battle of Lyman continues where Russians are trying to hold their position. Reports are difficult to come by as this is a live battle, but Russian social media channels say they are having a hard time as Ukrainians troops have encircled them.
The UN have issued a ‘useless ’statement declaring the annexation of the partially occupied regions of Ukraine violates international law and the UN charter. This is all well and good, and expected of course but what practical use is the statement? The role of the UN is to deter war in the first place and to prevent aggressors from invading sovereign states. In this respect, the UN has failed. Issuing statements and passing resolutions over the last seven months has done little to stop Russia from continuing the invasion in Ukraine. It's time for the UN to reevaluate their position and to find a way to proactively help end this war.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that the annexation was:
a "…dangerous escalation… any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned. The Russian Federation as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council shares a particular responsibility to respect the Charter. "
I would have hoped by now everyone realises and accepts that Russia has no respect for international law or the UN Charter. In a word, Bucha.
All the major western states have issued statements stating they will not recognise the annexation acts carried out by Russia. This will lead to further sanctions and a declaration that countries will support Ukraine as long as that support is needed. It’s a pity they didn’t offer the support in the first week of the invasion, as many lives might have been saved.
Ukraine responded in a statement reiterating that sanctions are simply not enough to deter or stop Putin. How does an escalation of war equate to further financial sanctions? It doesn't. When you lose land and those people that live there or under threat, it will take more than banning exports to deter Putin from invading further territory and to annex those. Ultimately, no one stopped him with Crimea in 2014, and this is the result. The international community need to be decisive in how they decide to respond to this illegal act, mainly that a special tribunal needs to be set up so that the numerous alleged war crimes can be prosecuted, so the victims can receive some kind of justice.