NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews) – After two years of bitter fighting, the Russo-Ukraine war turns to a stalemate, that is, no one is winning. But in such condition, the great expense and damage in terms of manpower and war material are incurred, as usual, by the invading forces. If the effects of Western sanctions and embargo are added to the equation, Russia would come out at the losing end. The cost is a nightmare.
There is no light at the end of the dark tunnel the Russians are in. To stop the war so as not to aggravate their losses is not an option because it bruises the humongous ego of Putin – it means raising the white flag. It’s beyond the stomach of the imperial prime minister.
If Hamas had not stolen the limelight from the Russo-Ukraine war with their kamikaze invasion of Israel on October 7, all world attention should have remained focused on the Russian misadventure.
But “Enough is enough” is actually the sentiment that reverberates in all of Russia. The Russians are actually opposed to the war. In fact, many have defied the draft and preferred prison over the battlefield. Those forced to join the army are reluctant, accordingly, to fight the enemy who speak the same tongue, and who could be a relation or a friend.
Under Putin, however, the war must persist no matter the cost.
The only way to end the nightmare is to remove him.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.)
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