New York Times: The war in Ukraine is even more amazing. Putin’s biggest surprise (editorial)

Here is a surprising fact: although the Americans accept almost nothing, the vast majority are in favor of generous economic and military assistance to Ukraine in the fight against attempts to destroy Vladimir Putin’s map. A few months ago, if you consider that most Americans can not find Ukraine on the map, it is even more surprising, because it is a country that has never had special relations with us – writes the American newspaper The New York Times. In the editorial quoted by Rador.

However, the continuation of this support in the summer is even more important, as the war in Ukraine enters a kind of ‘sumo’ phase – two big fighters, each trying to push the other out of the ring, but no one. Wanted to give up or win the race.

I expect some erosion in the current situation, people think to aggravate the global energy and food crisis, I hope most Americans will hold their position in the hope that Ukraine can regain its status. Good peace deal with Putin. My current belief is not in the study of opinion polls, but in written history – in particular, in Michael Mandelbaum’s new book: “The Four Levels of American Foreign Policy: Weak Power, One Great Power, One Superpower and One Superpower”.

Mandelbaum (we wrote a book together in 2011), professor of foreign policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, says the US position on Ukraine may seem surprising and unique, but it is not. Judging by US foreign policy – his book covers four levels of power that the United States has in other parts of the world – it seems practically familiar and predictable. Both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will benefit from reading the book.

In Churchill’s view, “wars can change the course of history, and great wars often determine the fate of wars,” says Mandelbaum. The struggle between Russia and Ukraine to seize part of eastern Ukraine known as the Donbass has such potential.

In many ways, not just one. The 27 EU countries, our key allies, are practically the largest trading conglomerate in the world. They have already taken steps to reduce their trade and investment in Russia. On May 31, the European Union agreed to reduce Russian oil imports by 90% by the end of 2022. This will affect not only Russia, but also EU consumers and manufacturers who are already paying astronomical sums for petrol and gas.

“If this war fails to destroy the planet, on the contrary, it will help it survive.”

However, all of this is happening at a time when it is competing with renewable energy fossil fuels such as solar or wind and at a time when the global car industry is increasing the production of its electric vehicles and new batteries.

In the short term, none of this will lead to a reduction in Russian production. “The war in Ukraine is already forcing every country and every company to hasten its decarbonization projects,” said Tom Burke, director of the E3G Research Laboratory for Third Generation Ecology.

A recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly stated: “Nineteenth-century naval wars accelerated the transition from sailing ships to coal-based ships. World War I marked the transition from coal to oil. World War II introduced nuclear energy as a major energy source. In all these cases, innovations had a direct impact on the civil economy and accelerated the emergence of a new era. The war in Ukraine is different because it does not provoke real energy discoveries, but only illustrates the need for such energy. However, the potential impact could lead to similar changes. “

Imagine for a second you were transposed into the karmic world of Earl. Over time, this will reduce Putin’s vital financial and energy reserves.

Now that we think about it, isn’t that ridiculous?

[Articol de Thomas L. Friedman / The New York Times]

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