The world after Bucha.
Author: Evgen Dykyj (PhD) | Image: Unsplash
Today is the 40th day of commemoration for everything that was naively considered a global safety system. The world will never be the same as before. Either it will become better or perhaps much worse. It will undoubtedly become worse unless those absurd crimes will not be punished.
Suppose the state, full of maniacs and butchers, from the dictator to the last soldier on the line, remains the same as other states. In that case, people will think to agree on something to forego something else because it "has its own interests," signed agreements, and commercial trades.
At first, one part of the sanctions will be relieved. Then another will be away because we all believe that "time cures all wounds." In this case, this new world will allow many more soldiers to behave like in Bucha again and again.
If this country and its people can do it many more times, feels its bloody taste, and considers it standard, other countries can do it as well, with sufficient power and political shrewdness. In such a world, we Ukrainians will probably be doomed to get extinct sooner or later. Furthermore, such a world would not be worthy of existing because it would still be too bloody and disgusting.
The world will change if Bucha becomes an actual turning point. It should become a point of no return, after which the butcher-like country should be treated the same as a crazy killer has been treated by society.
Nobody negotiates with dictators; firstly, they should be neutralized, isolated, and treated compulsorily. This is how Russia should be treated, and any other kind of negotiations should be stopped until its complete defeat.
The topic of negotiations should focus on its total capitulation and, most importantly, should not be held with Putin himself. Instead, we need to start an argument about the future of Russia with the whole world and our allies. We need to debate what is our joint position about Russia, under which conditions it can be left alone, and only then open the discussion about the gradual mitigation of the imposed sanctions.
Below I am describing what I believe civilized countries should do with Russia.
Removal of all current leadership of the Russian federation from the power, starting from Putin till each minister, governor, and deputy, including the oversight of the army, all other power structures, and establishment of transitional authority from the people, who were not direct co-participants of the military crimes of the Russian federation.
Unconditional de-occupation of all the areas temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation (including the occupied regions in different years from the moment of the Soviet Union collapse) and removal of Russian military contingents out of all the countries outside of the Russian Federation (including the ones, which are formally invited by the local regimes).
Nuclear demilitarization of the Russian federation (or new states established in their areas), complete utilization of its nuclear weapons under the joint control of other atomic-ready countries, and joining by the Russian Federation or its successors to the Agreement about Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as a nuclear-free state.
Permanent, unconditional admission of the international inspectorate to verify compliance with the nuclear-free status and absence of chemical and biological weapons in Russia or its successor states.
Constitutional restriction of the limiting number of the Russian armed forces and other power structures, and the offensive weapons restrictions, namely the number of aviation, missiles, artillery, and tanks, which have to be permanently and unconditionally admitted by the international inspectorate to verify the compliance with these restrictions.
- Undeniable extradition of all war criminals, which include both high-ranking officials and ordinary executors of criminal orders, by the new authorities of the Russian Federation or the successor states on demand Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, and other countries that suffered from Russian aggression, for their prosecution in these countries.
Lifelong lustration of all officials of the period of Putin's administration, who won't be testified in the direct involvement in the war crimes, with the ban for any political activity and holding any administrative positions.
Reform of the education system of the Russian federation or successor states under the leadership of international experts aiming to prevent the education of new generations of Russians in the spirit of imperialism and chauvinism. Study of the historical responsibility of the Russian empire towards the enslaved nations has to be obligatory included in the curriculum, as well as the considerations of the collective blame and responsibility of the Russian people.
Voluntary waiver of the Russian federation or successor states to all rights to property, funds, and other assets of the Russian Federation, Russian enterprises, and private individuals which were outside the internationally recognized borders of the Russian federation at 24.02.2022 in favor of Ukraine and other countries that became victims of the Russian military aggression.
The official obligation of the new Russian government or the successor states is to pay the total amount of the determined compensation within ten years in case the competent international commission finds that the amount of the above assets are insufficient to fully compensate for the damages (including the moral damages to victims of aggression and their families).
The withdrawal of Russia or successor states from the CSTO and constitutional consolidation of the lifelong neutral status of Russia, a constitutional ban on the Russian (or successor states) troops' involvement outside the modern internationally recognized territory of Russia (except for UN peacekeeping missions).
Russian federation exclusion from the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
This is the lowest list of conditions under which the world after Bucha will be better than those destroyed by Russian soldiers. Only then will the suffering and sacrifices of those lives not be in vain.
Are Russians not yet ready to discuss such conditions? Well, then there is no need to talk to them yet. Meanwhile, we need to speak about it and develop a common framework with our allies in advance based on the notions listed above.
Meanwhile, we should prepare Russia to accept this framework and these conditions. We should prepare it while using the only method understandable to Russia - the absolute whole military defeat.
This, of course, is much more difficult than trying to satisfy the wishes of Putin again and then negotiating with him through incompetent political fixers, such as Abramovich and Erdogan. We know fighting for victory is extremely difficult, but after all, it makes much more sense than ending up negotiating with a crazy assassin.
I am sure this war will go on until the defeat of the Russian Federation and become a new kind of war for a new and better world, in which we will finally have proper security for our children and grandchildren and justify the incredible sacrifices we made. Otherwise, ending up negotiating with Putin's disturbed mind will allow him to preserve his status and continue to retain his power, leaving no justifications behind.
My most profound advice to everyone who wants to look into the eyes of Russians and their future is to first walk through the streets of Bucha and glance into the eyes of the tortured and murdered men, women, children, and their beloved pets.
One can only go to Istambul after Bucha, or otherwise, only a distorted perception of this world would be possible. This beautiful and yet terrifying world changed completely after Bucha. That is it for now. Glory to Ukraine.
Evgen Dykyj (PhD), is the director of the National Antarctic Research Center in Kyiv, Ukraine. This story was initially posted on Evgen's Facebook profile as an intimate and powerful appeal to seek punishment and justice for the genocide conducted by the Russian troops in and around Bucha, Ukraine. Evgen is currently on the ground in Ukraine, defending his country from the barbaric Russian aggression.
