“European Union picking up the pieces for Ukraine’s blunder” (Part 2)

“European Union picking up the pieces for Ukraine’s blunder” (Part 2)

By R Paneir Selvam




IN the last article, we spoke of how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s had ignored Russian President Vladmir Putin’s opposition to Ukraine formally joining the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which resulted in the current war.

Now, we will be talking on how the conflict had created a massive refugee crisis not seen in decades and how the European Union (UN) is bearing the brunt of the preventable conflict.

The conflict and refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning that the humanitarian crisis that has engulfed Ukrainians is only getting started. It is estimated that over four million people would become refugees, with millions more displaced within Ukraine as a result of Russian offensive.

Meanwhile, EU have announced that they will activate the temporary protection directive, which has been dormant since the wars in Yugoslavia and Kosovo in 2001.

Temporary protection, according to the European Commission, is an unusual measure designed to provide urgent and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-EU countries who are unable to return to their home country.

There are two reasons for the EU’s minimum criteria on this matter. First, it eliminates inconsistencies in EU Member States’ policies on the reception and treatment of displaced persons in times of mass influx. Second, it fosters cooperation and burden-sharing among EU member states in the face of large-scale potential refugee arrivals.

It applies where there is a possibility that the standard asylum system would be unable to cope with demand resulting from a large influx, causing delays in claim processing.

Ukrainian refugees would be allowed to remain and work in the EU for up to three years, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

This would allow Ukrainian nationals and permanent residents to live, work, access healthcare, housing and education without having to go through long asylum proceedings for up to a year. That status could be extended for another two years if the war continues or if refugees are unable to return safely.

Even if the EU’s action is commendable, I believe that this conflict could have been avoided in the first place. This is due to the fact that women and children are the hapless victims of any conflict.

A leader’s most important responsibility is to safeguard his people, especially the children. The safety and well-being of these children is critical.

The mental health of young children who witnessed bombings and, in some cases, the deaths of their parents, will have a long-term impact on their lives.

As a result, any leader who is about to participate in a dispute must assess whether it is necessary or can be averted by placing a high priority on the protection of children.

The innocent suffers

Any conflict, including the Ukraine crisis, ends with a reminder of what leaders and wars can do to innocent people.

War is never a feasible option. War is the playground of egotistical leaders who are apathetic to the lives of ordinary people.

The League of Nations’ inability to prevent World War II put an end to its role as an international organisation. The UN’s failure to avoid wars on several occasions raises doubts about the organisation’s efficiency.

People should be involved in decision-making process, rather than expecting their leaders. For example, altruistic leaders like former South African President Nelson Mandela put their lives on the line for the people, not the other way around.

As history has often demonstrated, “great leaders” frequently make grave errors, particularly during conflicts in which they pawn their own people for their own self- grandeur. – March 13, 2022



R Paneir Selvam is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (ARRESCON), a think tank specialising on strategic national and geo-political matters.