Why is Russia besieging Ukraine with a population of 4.41 crore:

 NATO does not come too close to Russia's border, so Putin's attitude towards Ukraine is aggressive

More than one lakh Russian soldiers are standing on the border of Ukraine. Missile launchers, tanks and heavy weapons are deployed. On the other hand, Western countries and America are sending heavy weapons to Ukraine. Ukrainian military experts believe that Russia can attack at any time. The US says that Russia is looking for an excuse to attack Ukraine and may retaliate by falsely attacking itself.

It's freezing cold in Europe, but the climate is warm about Ukraine. Preparation for war, diplomacy to stop war is being done on a war footing. Reading the reports of Western media, it seems that Russia is very aggressive and can attack Ukraine at any time.

But to understand what is going on in Russia at the moment and what is Russia's attitude and attitude on this crisis, the Deputy Head of International Relations of Russia-based Higher School of Economics Dmitry Novikoff was talked to. Before reading their point of view, you can also give your opinion by participating in this poll.

There is another reason for the tension in Russia-US relations.

The position of Russia is not the same as the western media is showing the situation in Ukraine. Russia has no interest in occupying Ukraine.

If we look at the point of view of Western media and Western experts, it would seem that Russia is going to attack Ukraine sometime in February and for this it is making military preparations. Control of Ukraine is part of Russia's imperialist ambition, although it is not the reality.

The tension between Russia and the United States and the relationship between Russia and the West in recent months is due to something else. We have to look at the situation in a big way. At the center of Russia's policy and attitude towards Ukraine is not Ukraine, but relations with America and Western countries.

Since the end of the Cold War, Europe's security system has revolved around NATO. NATO is now the foremost security agency in the region. NATO has continuously expanded towards the east and has included new countries in its bloc. Russia has always been opposed to the expansion of NATO to the east.

The previous Dmitry Medvedev government in Russia was very liberal towards the West. It introduced a new agreement on European security in 2008. As such, Russia's new efforts to change the European security situation are more NATO-focused and less Western Europe-focused.

Russia is taking a balanced approach. It wants to be an equal partner in the European security system. He wants to stand at par with America.

Tension has been brewing between the two countries for years.

If NATO deploys its forces near the Russian border, it will make Russia uncomfortable.

This is not just the story of today. This has been happening for the last one or two decades. At different times, Russia has attempted to balance the post-Cold War security situation more. Russia wants European security not to lean just west.

Russia also has its own security concerns. If NATO will deploy its forces near the Russian border or install missile systems, then it will make Russia uncomfortable. If the military deployment increases in countries that were earlier part of the Soviet Union and are now included in NATO, it will make Russia feel unsafe. Russia is also uncomfortable if NATO tries to include new countries. Russia wants to express its dissatisfaction with the expansionist attitude of NATO.

Russia does not see former Soviet countries as its sphere of influence, but as its special interest zone. One reason for this is that these countries, which broke away from the Soviet Union, are politically, socially, economically and culturally connected with Russia.

NATO is trying to build a security net around Russia. Russia considers these moves of NATO illegal. Russia believes that NATO has interfered in its special interests by involving former Soviet countries.

That's why it is said that whatever steps Russia is taking regarding Ukraine, their aim is not to capture Ukraine, but to come to a position that Western European countries should make an agreement with Russia. Russia wants to give new status to Ukraine and former Soviet Union countries.

The Soviet Union took a similar stand against NATO in 1950.

Russia wants Ukraine to remain neutral and maintain its neutral status. Russia will be satisfied if Ukraine does not go with NATO. If we look from this point of view, we will find historical references. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchoff of the 1950s also took an aggressive approach to halt the expansion of NATO. Second, the Berlin crisis and the Cuban missile crisis were also the result of this strategy of Russia. Forced by this aggressive attitude of Russia, Western countries talked to Russia.

At that time, America and Western countries considered the Soviet Union very weak in their competition.

We can say that the aggressive attitude adopted by Russia towards Ukraine is not aimed at capturing Ukraine. Nor does it reflect the imperialist intentions of Russia. This is a signal to the western countries that let's sit down and talk.

There have been talks between Russia and the West. Putin has made his proposals and the West has responded, but Russia is not yet satisfied with them.

In the next few weeks, we will see that America, the West and Russia can reach a permanent agreement. A new framework for European security may emerge and new rules and possibilities may emerge. Until that happens, tensions around Ukraine will only escalate. Russia feels that its interests can be served by putting pressure on Western countries by encircling Ukraine.

Russia does not want war under any circumstances

Nobody wants war right now. Russia also does not want war, because Russia knows that a war against Ukraine will not be in its strategic and strategic interests. If war happens, Western countries will impose sanctions on Russia, Russia will also lose its strategic edge. Viewed from this perspective, a military operation in Ukraine would be a major strategic loss for the Russian Federation.

Indeed, by threatening Ukraine and increasing tensions, Russia wants to keep pressure on Western countries for a new security deal. Russia wants NATO not to expand into former Soviet countries and Western countries should guarantee it. If seen from this perspective, a political and diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis can be found.

Russia may be portrayed as aggressive, but in reality it is not. By gathering his army around Ukraine, he is indicating that it is possible to attack Ukraine.

The people of Russia have become accustomed to the tension between the two countries.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been going on since 2014. The people of Russia have become accustomed to tensions with Ukraine. This tension was at its peak in June 2014. After this, tension increased in January-February 2015. From time to time there are reports of clashes and shootings in eastern Ukraine.

Here separatists from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics are fighting for separation from Ukraine. These have not yet been recognized.

So far several thousand people have died in this conflict. But till now it has not yielded any result. As the fighting between the Ukrainian military and the separatists intensifies, the risk of Russia becoming involved in the conflict increases.

Less movement in Moscow, but heat in the markets

As of now, there is no movement in Moscow, there is no fear among the people. The common people of Russia are not even taking much interest in this tension. However, there are people here who want Russia to attack Ukraine.

Russian nationalists and ultra-nationalists want the Russian Empire to be rebuilt and Ukraine to be included in the Russian Federation again. However, the number of such people is very less.

However, this situation is also affecting the market. Stocks of big Russian companies are falling. The Moscow Stock Exchange has fallen more than 30% since November 2021. Traders expect the situation to stabilize in the next few months, as there have been several occasions since 2014 when Western countries have threatened new sanctions. People are also getting used to these economic conditions.