The Conflict in Ukraine Is Widening Out of Control

The Conflict in Ukraine Is Widening out of Control

Paul Craig Roberts

Since early 2022, more than three years ago, my theme has been that Russian President Putin’s unwillingness or inability to bring the conflict with Ukraine to a quick end will result in an ever-widening war culminating in a major conflagration far beyond Donbas and Ukraine.  It was obvious to me, but not to Putin and to my critics, that by refusing to use sufficient force to end the conflict Putin was guaranteeing the increased participation of Washington and NATO in the conflict.  Over the years of the conflict I have provided numerous updates on “The Ever-widening War.”

The war has widened into an attack on Russian strategic forces and recent talk of providing Ukraine with missiles to attack Moscow.  According to news reports, Europe is preparing for war with Russia.  The conflict has already gone far beyond Donbas. The point of a major conflagration cannot be far off.  One Russian commentator says “World War III has already begun.” https://www.rt.com/news/621486-dmitry-trenin-world-war-iii/ 

Putin, and as far as I can tell, few  in Russia understand the Zionist neoconservatives doctrine of American hegemony.  It seems that Putin has never heard of the three decades old Wolfowitz doctrine. Putin himself admits that he has only now understood the situation that confronts Russia.  As John Helmer reports:

“Putin has just admitted this in a television interview on July 14.  “I thought that the contradictions with the West were primarily ideological,” he said. “It seemed logical at the time – Cold War inertia, different views of the world, values, the organization of society. But even when the ideology disappeared, when the Soviet Union ceased to exist, the same, almost routine deviation from Russia’s interests continued. And it was not because of ideas [ideology], but because of the pursuit of advantages – geopolitical, economic, strategic. The world respects only those who can protect themselves. Until we show that we are an independent and sovereign power that stands behind our interests, there will be no room for anyone to treat us as equals.” Source:  https://t.me/s/zarubinreporter — translated here.  https://johnhelmer.net/trump-escalates-ukraine-war-putin-acknowledges-reality-is-turning-out-to-be-marxist/

But American hegemony is an ideology and remains the basis of US foreign policy.  Moreover, Putin  has demonstrated that his red lines are meaningless.  Consequently, there are no constraints on the widening of the conflict.

President Trump, stopped by the Ruling Establishment from his domestic agenda, has turned to foreign affairs where he can remain in the limelight by bullying other countries to conform to his edicts.  He has now given Putin 50 days to comply.

To comply with what?  With Zelensky’s demands?  What is the agreement for which Trump demands Putin’s consent?  As the conflict is between Washington and Russia, the agreement has to be made by Trump and Putin.  Putin has made it clear that the agreement must deal with “the root cause” of the conflict, which is the absence of a mutual security agreement.  But if Washington is set on hegemony, there can be no mutual security agreement.

Here is the real situation:  Two heavily nuclear armed governments are both in denial of reality.  Putin and Lavrov are governed by their illusion that the difference between Russia and the West can be resolved through words.  Washington is dangerous because the Zionist neoconservative doctrine of American hegemony is institutionalized.

To avoid the brewing conflagration, all Washington and the EU need to do is to agree with Russia to a mutual security treaty.  Russia only wants threats off its borders.  Russia has no territorial ambitions unless Russia is  driven to them by security threats.  Trump wants America to make money.  How does America make money when US aggression cuts the West off from the majority of the world?  The only reason for BRICS is Washington’s hostility to Russia, China, and Iran.

The dilemma is that the US weapons industry is too powerful for peace.