Putin is cornered by his own ego
HISTORICALLY in this country, industrial disputes are settled in the end by negotiation. This is sometimes before a strike happens or, in many cases, during a strike, and usually by both sides claiming victory, but in reality both sides invariably have to make certain concessions to resolve the problem.
Hopefully the ongoing war in Ukraine will soon create a mirror image of disputes the world over. Putin is in a vindictive mood against Ukraine but his aggression is by all accounts faltering, despite his belligerence and ‘hard man’ persona. His grip on power in Russia is at the moment, barring a miracle of being deposed from within, absolute. There is no way he can save face by withdrawing his forces without victory, as he sees it, so he is cornered by his own ego.
The Ukraine government can come to his rescue and offer him a face-saving way out on terms which will suit his monstrous ego.
They can accept that the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk should be ceded to Russia; after all, what is the point of having these two pro-Russian areas within Ukraine’s territory, creating mayhem for years to come? They could also concede that Crimea could remain in Russian hands, since it has been occupied for so many years and gives Mother Russia an outlet to the Black Sea.
These concessions will enable Putin to say he has safeguarded these areas against Ukrainian ‘aggressors’, which was his pretence for waging war in the first place.
But, in turn, the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa shall remain as unthreatened Ukrainian territory, as without it Ukraine would be landlocked with no port access when the war eventually ends.
Ukraine could also make it clear that it has no desire to join Nato for the foreseeable future. In this way Putin can make a ‘face-saving’ withdrawal back to Mother Russia he so desperately needs at this time.
Let’s hope and pray that Putin has the common sense to reach this same conclusion and grab this ‘exit strategy’ with both hands – for all our sakes.
Edward Kynaston Lydney, Gloucestershire