The war between Russia and Ukraine has not been extinguished since February 2022 and has lasted for two years. Behind this war, there is an international involvement, especially the five permanent members of the United Nations – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China. Among them, with the exception of China, the other four countries seem to have found their own points of interest in this war.
The position and purpose of the United States were particularly clear in this war. From the beginning, the United States was seen as the driving force behind the Russia-Ukraine war, the core of which was to weaken Russia's national power through this protracted war. At the same time,By creating a war crisis, European countries will strengthen their dependence on the United States and increase their control in Europe. In addition, the United States hopes to take this opportunity to attract European capital inflows to ease its own economic pressure.
In the eyes of the United States, it is not in its interests whether Ukraine wins or Russia wins. What the United States needs is a lose-lose war in order to be in a good position to reshape the European security order and relations with Russia. Russia, for its part, has shown great resilience and determination in this war.
Although the war brought enormous attrition to Russia, it also led to an unprecedented unity of domestic will. Under the pressure of the war, various currents of thought and voices in Russia temporarily united to face external threats. This is undoubtedly an unexpected gain for Mr. Pu. As the war dragged on, Russia not only managed to drag down Europe, but also demonstrated its economic system adapted to the state of war.
Against this backdrop, Russia's goal is not just Ukraine's military neutrality, but a larger strategic goal – the expansion of national influenceIt is even possible to annex or vassalize all of Ukraine. The positions of Britain and France in this war were also quite delicate.
As a strategic ally of the United States, Britain's position is highly consistent with that of the United States, and it supports a protracted war to deplete the power of Russia and Europe. France, on the other hand, gradually adjusted its attitude in the course of the war. Initially, France was against the war, but as the war dragged on and Russia gained a certain advantage on the battlefield, the countries of the European Union began to panic.
In this regard, some netizens said:
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This gives France an opportunity to become the leader of the European Union. Macron even offered to place France's nuclear deterrent forces at the disposal of the European Union, with the intention of providing a nuclear umbrella for the whole of Europe. In this context, the continuation of the war meant for France an increase in its influence and popularity in Europe.
As for China, although it has been pushing for an armistice, hoping that the war will end as soon as possible, objectively speakingThe war also bought China valuable strategic time and space. The containment and attrition of the European Union, the United States and Russia have provided more opportunities for China's development. At the same time, due to the comprehensive sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, the economic and professional cooperation between China and Russia has also been strengthened, which has promoted the process of RMB internationalization.
In this intricate war, the intertwining of interests makes the situation even more unpredictable. Although the United States is ostensibly supporting Ukraine, it is actually using this war more to achieve its own strategic goals. By constantly providing ** and support to Ukraine, the United States is able to both weaken Russia and strengthen the dependence of European countries on itself and consolidate its influence in Europe.
China's attitude towards the war has been relatively restrained, and although it does not want the war to continue, it has also benefited to a certain extent. The war not only consumed the resources and energy of China's potential adversaries, but also made China's position on the international stage relatively elevated. At the same time, economic cooperation between China and Russia has been strengthened as a result of the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia during the war, which has helped China's economic and strategic interests.
In general, although the Russia-Ukraine war is a regional conflict, it reflects the game and competing interests between international powers. Each country is trying to achieve its goals through this war, whether it is to increase its influence, reshape the regional security landscape, or improve its international standing. The war became a microcosm of the international community, showing the complex and volatile international relations in today's world.
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