January 28, 2022

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

International tensions are increasing with Russia deploying more than 100,000 troops along the border with Ukraine. No doubt that Russia is putting its military pressure on Ukraine and it should immediately stop threating its neighboring country. It is unacceptable for a country to invade other countries. The need now is for the international community to urgently make diplomatic efforts with respect to Ukrainian sovereignty based on international law and the UN Charter which calls for peaceful resolution to conflicts, not take a military approach which could only aggravate the crisis.

NATO member states one after another announced that in support of Ukraine, they will send more troops, military aircraft, and warships to Ukraine's surrounding countries. The U.S. Biden administration, in order to quickly respond to a NATO decision to deploy high readiness forces, ordered 8,500 U.S. troops to be ready to engage in the NATO unit. The U.S. and European nations are discouraging Russia from invading Ukraine by saying that they will dramatically tighten economic sanctions which they have been imposing against Russia since the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Russia and the U.S. are both big nuclear superpowers. Reportedly, the Russian government under President Putin was even considering deploying nuclear weapons when annexing Crimea. If a military confrontation breaks out and escalates, its catastrophic consequences will be immense.

Biden and Putin, while facing off, said they will try to continue their direct talks. The EU presidency of France said it will hold a summit meeting with Zelensky followed by another summit with Putin.

UN Secretary General Guterres on January 21 said, "The most rational way to solve problems is through diplomacy and through engagement in serious dialogue, not turning to a military solution." He said the UN is willing to help ease tensions. Calm and coolheaded diplomatic efforts are needed by the international community.

Past related article:
> Russia should refrain from military intervention in Ukraine [March 4, 2014]