Russia has gone from seeking limited goals in Ukraine to using the war as a wedge for a radical restructuring of the global order. From Lucas Leiroz at strategic-culture.su:
The Russian operation in Ukraine completely changed the global geopolitical paradigm.
The Russian operation in Ukraine completely changed the global geopolitical paradigm.
Three years ago, Russia launched the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, a decisive and necessary move for the security of its people and the defense of its true territorial integrity – previously dismantled amidst the chaos of the Soviet Union’s collapse. This was the turning point that radically altered the course of international relations, ending a long wait during which Russian authorities observed the worsening situation in Donbass and the continuous attacks on their people. What seemed like a regional crisis soon transformed into a global confrontation, with Russia taking measures to protect not only the then-separatist region but also its sovereignty in the face of growing threats from an increasingly hostile West.
The Special Military Operation, initially intended as a swift and decisive action, had its strategy adjusted as the conflict intensified. The goal of demilitarizing and denazifying Ukraine was never just a security issue for Russia, but an existential struggle against NATO’s expansion and the threats posed by a regime controlled by extremist forces in Kiev. The direct involvement of the West in providing military support to Ukraine expanded the operation, turning the conflict into a broader war with global implications.
The Zelensky government, which initially appeared willing to seek a diplomatic solution, was quickly coerced by Western powers, who promised unlimited military and financial support in exchange for his opposition to peace talks. With this new background, Russia’s objectives expanded, and the operation took on a not only military but also strategic character, aiming to weaken the Western alliance and strengthen Russia’s position in the international arena. Over the following months and years, the war ceased to be merely a dispute for the recognition of the Russian population in Donbass and transformed into an ideological and geopolitical battleground, where Russia positioned itself as a force of resistance to the unipolar order imposed by the United States and its allies since 1991.
