Security expert Mirko Bilandžić, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, commented in Novi dan on the situation in Ukraine and whether the global balance of power is changing.
Commenting on the new tensions in Ukraine and the conflict over the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Mirko Bilandzic he said:
“Unfortunately, that war is already in its sixth month. In six months, the Russians did not achieve a single strategic goal. On the other hand, the Ukrainians are the winners. We have a situation in the military sense of part of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Considering the support for the Ukrainians, we can expect the continuation of the war, and possible devastation of nuclear facilities is present. It’s always risky. We don’t know for sure who threatens nuclear security, but we know for sure that this kind of attack on such facilities is the dispersion of fear and nuclear terror, which is a big challenge.”
When asked if there was a dead race for Donbas, he said: “Sanctions were expected, which has been the case in the political sense until then… The Russians have a fifth of the Ukrainian territory under military control, but that does not mean the conquest of that territory.” We have had the last month, month and a half, after the reorganization of the Russian forces, we have had some progress by the Russians, but that does not mean the conquest of that part of the territory. I think that it is a stalemate, that the borders of military actions do not move. Ukraine will not agree to cede parts of the territory and this murderous conflict can continue for a long period of time.”
“The dimension of Russia’s changed geopolitical conditions is one of the crucial reasons why the illegal aggression took place,” says Bilandžić and explains: “Russia, led by Putin, wants the position that the USSR previously held. Could this include territorial expansion? And such options are possible. In this brutality of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russia cannot be the loser in this war, which it is so far. It cannot be ruled out that the conflict may escalate. If Russia were to embark on this type of expansionism, the Baltic region (Georgia, Moldova) are primary points in the context of possible Russian expansion.”
Changed position of China
He also touched on China’s support:
“We have had the contours of the evolution of the new order for at least 15 years. The balance of power has changed, and so has China’s position. Since the end of the Cold War, the USA has been dominant, and there is dissatisfaction with such an order. I would not say that this implies an alliance between Russia and China except in relation to the order. China did not unconditionally side with Russia regarding the invasion of Ukraine.”
At the end, he further analyzed the relationship between China and Taiwan.
Video coming soon…
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