A year after the outbreak of war, Ukraine’s confidence in winning the war against Russia has not faded, but perhaps it is stronger than ever. It also stands to reason that hope is not dead, according to Olena Haluska. “Every Ukrainian understands that to live under Russian occupation is to die.”
Haluska is known in Ukraine as a fighter against corruption and is also the founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory. In a conversation with journalist Geert Jan Hahn, Haluska says that the possible consequences of a Russian occupation of Ukraine are also a motivation for Ukrainians to keep fighting. Russia’s failure therefore comes as no surprise. This is possible thanks to the courage and motivation of our army and the resilience of society. Every Ukrainian understands that to live under Russian occupation is to die. That is why Ukrainians continue to fight for our sovereign and independent country.’
“Every Ukrainian understands that to live under Russian occupation is to die.”
Sanctions must lead to weakening
But to achieve this, Ukraine also wants Russia to be further isolated from the outside world. This is what happens with many sanctions that have already been introduced by Western countries. That’s why Ukraine wants sanctions. Russia, according to Ukraine, is a Pac-Man eating all of Europe. So Ukraine must win, because otherwise there will be no Ukraine. (…). Russia must be isolated and weakened in the eyes of the Ukrainians,” Hahn explains.
And the attempts to weaken Russia have an important reason, Hahn says. “Russia must not be strong enough to weaken other countries.” And that’s why Russia can still expect “a long period of sanctions,” says sanctions lawyer Heleen of de Linden. ‘It’s going to bite at some point, but that’s also hard to predict. After all, we don’t even know how China and India will behave, because they continue to do business with Russia.’
“Russia must not be strong enough to weaken other countries.”
But if the sanctions have a long-term effect, they could have a major impact on Russia, the lawyer thinks. He compares it to the last period of the Cold War. ‘I studied in Moscow in 1988, which was at the end of an era where embargoes and sanctions were all over Russia. That country was no longer possible then, it was exhausted and impoverished. There were no more products, basic necessities or even toilet paper. If this goes on for a long time, maybe it could come back to that. But we’re not there yet.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
