Putin’s goal is the control of Ukraine

The country holding the presidency of the UN Security Council is waging a brutal war of conquest against Ukraine. A statement by Karl von Habsburg

While there was initial speculation that Putin’s troop deployment might be aimed at annexing the territories in eastern Ukraine already occupied by Russian mercenaries, the current massive assault has made it clear that his objective is the conquest of the entire country. Putin is following a script familiar from previous wars of conquest instigated by dictators driven by fantasies of great-power status.

For this reason, it is to be feared that the further advance of Russian troops will lead to massive purges and the establishment of death camps, whether they be called concentration camps or gulags. If the conquest of the entire Ukraine is not achievable, Putin will in any case attempt to conquer a land bridge to Tiraspol, thereby cutting Ukraine off from access to the Black Sea, and causing as much destruction as possible in the rest of the country.

It is now time for the free world to massively increase sanctions against Russia and to cut the country off from the SWIFT payment system. At the same time, it will be necessary to impose direct sanctions against Putin and his immediate circle responsible for this war. They must be cut off from their assets in Europe and other parts of the free world.

The brutal cynicism with which Putin operates is evidenced by the fact that the war of aggression was launched at a time when Russia holds the presidency of the UN Security Council. This raises the question of whether this Security Council is still capable of acting at all.

An indictment of Putin before the International Criminal Court must be prepared. European intelligence services will also have much work to do in combating the massive disinformation campaigns being spread in all European countries by supporters of the Russian dictator.

In any case, Europe is now well-advised to prepare for a wave of people fleeing the war and to provide unbureaucratic assistance to these victims of Putin’s aggression.