There’s quite some discussion about the responsibility for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That’s weird as there’s one country that attacks, and one country that defends. It’s simple. However, some people have a habit of confusing a discussion by suggesting that accountability is similar as responsibility (my blogs).
Notwithstanding the above, there is accountability for Ukraine in this war. Hence, a brief history lesson.
In 1990, Ukraine declared independence from Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1988-1991) by its then president Mikhail Gorbachev. In 2004, the Supreme Court of Ukraine decided that the presidential election had been rigged in favour of Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian candidate.
Ever since 2004, Ukraine has been trying to apply for a EU membership and – much worse – for a NATO membership. Latter membership was doomed from the start because NATO cannot afford such a blatant provocation of Russia. Here lies the (main) accountability for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Since 2018, Russia has been using economic sanctions against Ukraine to enforce its will (eg, Druzhba oil pipeline). Also see my recent blog on sanctions. The 2019 landslide victory of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former actor and comedian, may have sealed its fate (eg, 2021 prelude to 2022 war).
Perhaps, America and USA should have rejected a Ukrainian NATO membership immediately. Playing with fire is often dangerous. Hence, there is some accountability in the West for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
To some extent, accountability and responsibility are like cause and effect. However, the arrow of time is distorting the causality. The people in my opening paragraph are eager to suggest a clear causality between accountability and responsibility with the implicit conclusion that accountability equals responsibility.
Quite often, human stupidity is accountable for conflicts. Don’t blame and confuse human stupidity for responsibility.
Human (2016) by Rag’n’Bone Man
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
I’m only human, I make mistakes
I’m only human, that’s all it takes
To put the blame on me
Don’t put the blame on me
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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