Samir Puri

Opinion | China, India must be ready to seize peace in Ukraine, not just the West

There is arguably a moral dilemma in which helping Ukraine to fight, rather than exploring other ways to end the fighting, contributes to prolonging the war

The largest Asian countries, notably China but also India, should be poised to play a positive role if and when the winds change around the Ukraine war

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An emergency worker extinguishes a fire after a Russian attack on the Trypilska thermal power plant in Ukrainka, Kyiv, on April 11. Even if a return to negotiations is currently implausible, this will not be so indefinitely, as war without end is costly. Photo: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

Samir Puri

Published: 8:30pm, 24 Apr 2024Updated: 9:39pm, 24 Apr 2024

On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed a US$95 billion foreign aid package that includes military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The bill has since been approved by the Senate and presidential approval awaits. Having been stalled for months due to Congressional infighting driven by the opposition of a pro-Trump faction of Republicans, things are now moving quickly.

This list of recipients offers a succinct summary of stretched US foreign policy commitments. Wars in Ukraine and the Levant rage on, while the US retains a watchful eye on the security dynamics of the South China Sea. But no matter how you might rank these three priorities, there is no ambiguity as to which one is receiving the most budgetary attention.

The lion’s share of this US aid package is for Ukraine, with US$60.84 billion earmarked, including for military aid. There is pressing urgency for more US support, because of the relentless pressure Russian forces are applying on Ukraine. After 26 months, both sides are locked in an arm wrestle, unable to force the other to the table.

Ukraine’s embattled and outgunned armed forces have lost ground. After months of stalemate, Russia’s troops are on a slow and costly march in the Donetsk region. Cities like Avdiivka that had been fought over since the more limited Russian invasion began a decade ago have been captured by Russia.

The critical question is this: additional US military aid will help Ukraine avoid outright defeat but can it empower Ukraine to victory? Aid is also being provided by European countries, including efforts to seize profits from Russia’s frozen assets to help Ukraine. But keeping Ukraine in the fight is only part of the challenge.

There is arguably a moral dilemma in which helping Ukraine to fight, rather than exploring other ways to end the fighting, contributes to prolonging the war. At one level, the ethical equation is clear: Ukraine is the victim of an illegal war and needs to be able to defend itself. And it is Russian aggression that is the main factor driving the war.