Maxim Suchkov
From
Ukraine to Kashmir: The old laws of power still apply
There is plenty
to say about the chaos unfolding in Washington these days, but the sudden
military escalation between India and Pakistan shifts our attention elsewhere –
and provides some useful lessons.
Since the start
of Russia’s military operation against Ukraine, India’s official stance has
generally aligned with Moscow’s interests. Yet it has consistently stressed the
importance of peace.
While many in
India’s political and media elite – especially the pro-Western crowd – have
criticized Russia, their views have been shaped by alignment with the West, not
by deeper national principles.
India’s
official line, however, has always been dressed in polished diplomatic
language, designed to project wisdom and balance. Early in the conflict,
India’s Ambassador to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said:
“India has
consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to
violence.”
Fast forward to
2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi added:
“The conflict
in Ukraine is a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes
that no problem can be solved on the battlefield. We support dialogue and
diplomacy for early restoration of peace and stability.”
And of course,
External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar offered a soundbite which was
repeated endlessly in international forums:
“Wars are not
the way to settle disputes.”
The consistent
refrain at countless conferences about “peace in Europe” boiled down to this:
Russia was old-fashioned, clinging to outdated great power logic. The world had
moved on, they insisted. And inevitably, some “public intellectual” would spice
things up with a quote from Chanakya, Confucius, or even the Pope – advising
Russia on how real diplomacy should look today.
It was all
reminiscent of a famous scene in Aleksei Balabanov’s 2005 movie Dead Man’s
Bluff, where a bandit from the polished 2000s lectures his 1990s Russian
counterparts: “Why do you keep shooting? Business is done differently now.”
It wasn’t just
the Indians who pushed this line. The Chinese, Brazilians, Turks (yes, them
too), and other so-called “rising powers” repeated similar mantras.
Now, let’s be
clear: no one should gloat. War is a terrifying and extreme manifestation of
unresolved contradictions. However, to pontificate about “wisdom” and peace as
if it’s a fresh insight is banal – and, frankly, vulgar. Because when real
danger arrives – when an enemy or existential threat targets your home – there
is no high-minded choice left. States, like individuals, take up arms and fight
for victory in order to restore peace. That’s not bloodlust; it’s the basic
logic of international relations, from ancient kingdoms to today’s global
order. You can deny it, but you can’t make it disappear.
Western
propaganda’s greatest success over the past three years was convincing much of
the world that Russia’s offensive was a “war of choice” rather than a “war of
necessity” – which it was. Many in the so-called rising powers naively believed
that every conflict offers a choice, and that they themselves would never
resort to arms. But history teaches otherwise. When survival and national
security are truly at stake, even the most idealistic states will – without
even realizing it – abandon their slogans and do whatever is necessary. That,
too, is a timeless law of international life.
As the Bible
reminds us: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will
come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not
escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
What should
Russia do now? Stay the course – finish what we started. And be prepared for
new challenges on other fronts. At the same time, we should follow diplomatic
protocol and call on India and Pakistan to resolve their crisis peacefully. We
can even offer to host peace talks, if needed.
Because while
the reality of conflict remains unchanged, so too must our commitment: Victory
first. Peace second.
Happy World War
Two Victory Day – to us, and to peace.
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