MUHAMMET ALİ ZURNACI
In the midst of Ukraine Crisis 2.0, Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken tweeted: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” A week earlier, he had underscored the U.S. position on Russian aggression beyond Ukraine, emphasizing international principles crucial for peace and security: “These principles transcend Ukraine. They transcend Europe.”This triggered a thought in my mind: “And so, nothing about Europe without Europe.”
The day after the “Nothing about Ukraine” statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to foreign reporters, sending mixed signals to Anglo-American leaders: “They say tomorrow is war; this means panic. Ukrainians have learned to live with it since Moscow invaded in 2014. As the president of Ukraine, based here, I think I know the details deeper than any other president.” This response hinted at a deep geo-economic stance, aiming to influence the international agenda.
While Zelensky’s attempt to calm fears of alarmism was fair for a president, his stance could transcend a mere peace effort. It might be interpreted as aligning with Germany, France, and Russia against the U.S. and the U.K. Furthermore, Zelensky’s hardline position might establish him as a power broker in an asymmetrical power competition. However, Zelensky’s role might not prove to be a game-changer in the event of a further invasion of Ukraine, which ultimately depends on Russian decision-makers.
Similarly, the maneuvering of Germany and France is unlikely to significantly impact conflict prevention. Nevertheless, a prolonged decision-making process and extended maneuvering by European leaders may amplify the unintended consequences of a “highly possible” conflict. In any case, “Nothing about Europe without Europe.”
MAZ Articles
Trial Release
February 4, 2022