Skip to main content

Ukraine crisis trapped in history?

Talks between the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Russian Foreign Secretary, Sergei Lavrov, have failed to 'break the deadlock' on the Ukraine crisis. This is no surprise. Once again the main players are trapped by historical precedent. 

Russia has a genuine interest in the Ukraine, but to say that all sounds like Hitler's claims to the Sudetenland. Yet, if there is to be a diplomatic resolution to the crises there is not doubt that Russia's concerns will have to be - dare I say it? Appeased. 

It serves little purpose declaring the referendum in the Crimea unconstitutional. It begs the question of which constitution has legitimacy, and in the end the US and the EU will have to accept it. The Russians are not going to give way on it no matter what 'the costs', to use the phrase of the US and the EU. 'The costs' are rarely spelled out. It is a vague threat and has little substance to it. 

And so the tension increases with the possibility that Russia may move to 'protect' Russian speakers in East Ukraine. 

If there is to be a diplomatic solution, then let it not be hidebound by historical analogies. Given that a diplomatic solution is the only real alternative to conflict then this may be a time when 'appeasement' works!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prioritising people in nursing care.

There has been in recent years concern that care in the NHS has not been sufficiently 'patient centred', or responsive to the needs of the patient on a case basis. It has been felt in care that it as been the patient who has had to adapt to the regime of care, rather than the other way around. Putting patients at the centre of care means being responsive to their needs and supporting them through the process of health care delivery.  Patients should not become identikit sausages in a production line. The nurses body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council has responded to this challenge with a revised code of practice reflection get changes in health and social care since the previous code was published in 2008. The Code describes the professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives. Four themes describe what nurses and midwives are expected to do: prioritise people practise effectively preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust. The

The internet trails of Ants

Ants share, and they are built to do just that.  They walk and talk to cooperate in all they do.  Ants have two stomachs, with the second one set aside for storing food to be shared with other ants.  Ants get pretty intimate when meeting each other.  The ants kiss, but this kiss isn't any ordinary kind of kiss. Instead, they regurgitate food and exchange it with one another.  By sharing saliva and food,  ants communicate.  Each ant colony has a unique smell, so members recognize each other and sniff out intruders. In addition, all ants can produce pheromones, which are scent chemicals used for communication and to make trails. Ants are problem solvers.  We may recall the problems puzzles we were given as children. We look to see if the pieces will fit.  Jiz saw puzzles are much the same but with many contextual factors. First, the picture tells a story. Then, once we know what the image might be, it becomes easier to see which pieces to look for.  Ants lay down trails. Just as we f

The Thin End account of COVID Lockdown