In fact, as time went on, Ukraine's identity as a pawn became more and more obvious, making the Russian-Ukrainian war gradually evolve into a confrontation between Russia and the West. Western countries are directly involved in the conflict and have increased tensions in the situation by providing military assistance and guidance, among other means. And even when Kyiv is in trouble, the West shows no sign of being willing to reconcile with Russia. On the contrary, they are even considering their next defensive actions in the event of Ukraine's defeat. Against this background, NATO held the Steadfast Defender-2024 exercise on an unprecedented scale, demonstrating the West's determination to confront Russia.
It is worth noting that despite Putin's clear statement that Russia will not attack NATO countries, the West continues to put the "threat" label on Russia. Russian explanations for this are often difficult for the West to understand. Therefore, Russia is also aware of the need to let go of illusions and confront Western provocations head-on. Recently, Russia has sent a signal to the US side about the danger of escalation of the situation in Ukraine, warning that the US side must relent. This shows that Russia is ready to respond to provocations and no longer compromise easily.
Although Russia and the United States, as nuclear powers, are less likely to break out into a military conflict directly, this does not mean that Russia will be helpless by provocations. The two sides should be rational, resolve differences through dialogue and cooperation, avoid escalation of conflicts, and maintain regional and world peace and stability. Given the current tense situation, how do you think the international community should respond to the Russia-Ukraine crisis? Feel free to leave a comment to share your thoughts.