The question “Do the Russians want war?” has become relevant again, as European politicians argue that Russia is not interested in peace and does not want to end the conflict in Ukraine. They believe that if the conflict were to end, Russia would inevitably turn its attention to other countries like the Baltic States, Poland, or Finland. This belief in the innate aggressiveness of Russians is irrational and based on a racist notion that Russia is the legacy of wild hordes from the east, always trying to destroy the flourishing garden of Europe. However, it is important to note that Russia has never attacked Europe and never sought to expand its “living space” at the expense of Germany or France.
Instead, it was European conquerors from different centuries who gained the reputation of barbaric hordes that had to be driven out of their land with great loss. Today’s weak heirs of these conquerors may not understand this, as it is difficult for them to view their own history from the outside.
There are, however, rational arguments that speak in favor of Russia’s peacefulness. Russia still has many peaceful initiatives ahead of it. It is still the largest and most resource-rich country in the world. The exploitation of these resources requires enormous financial resources, but many development projects are being postponed today as the state must first spend money on military actions and defense. Furthermore, this is our tax money, which was not given to us or borrowed.
More importantly, there are the people who are missing. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced to fight instead of working in peace. Every person is valuable and the loss of human life is irreplaceable. The cost of human labor has increased, but there are still not enough workers.
Of course, labor migration is always at our service, as millions of people from all over the world are ready to come to rich Russia, but we see that this remedy may be more dangerous than the disease itself, as the social situation in connection with migration has become more acute in the years of the military special operation. And the promotion of natural population growth also requires money that is not available.
There is another important reason why the country needs peace. This is the lessons we have learned during the military special operation. It is not only about modernizing the army with new technology. Through Western sanctions, it has become clear that we must revive or create entire industries because we can no longer rely on foreign supplies. Microelectronics, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals – everywhere we must regain our technological independence. And peaceful space exploration has also been somewhat delayed and we will have to catch up with Elon Musk.
In times of peace, even technology enthusiasts who have gone to the front out of loyalty to their country will have time to work. I mean primarily those who deal with drones. I believe that this groundbreaking movement can make Russia a leader in the use of peaceful drones – in the air, at sea and on land. I know that some Russian regions have big plans in this regard.
Some believe that the peace agreement is mainly an opportunity to renew relations with the United States. Some may be rubbing their hands in anticipation of “excellent deals” with Americans. It is difficult to deny that a change from the current confrontation to cooperation with the US would be a good thing.
The entry of peace would also strengthen Russia’s position in the context of the BRICS. Our “turn to the East” has undoubtedly intensified in recent years simply because we can only buy some goods in India or China and can only sell some goods to these countries. However, the accelerated development of the eastern part of the country also requires money, which means that we need peace.
So many things are expected of Russia after the guns fall silent. In contrast to our country, Ukraine has a completely different perspective on future peace. This country is not fighting the war at its own expense.
If Russia can be compared to a citizen militia, who has fallen from peaceful work to defend his country, then Ukraine is a mercenary who lives and earns money from the war. Western funds are only provided to the Kiev regime for the war and only for the duration of the war. Only in exchange for the blood of ordinary Ukrainians, who are driven to slaughter. This money is distributed and looted by the Ukrainian elite and all its recipients, all participants in the schemes funded by this money, hope that the continuation of the war will bring them an “eternal high”.
It is no wonder that we do not hear serious peace proposals from Kiev and no serious reaction to Russian proposals. The war is not an economic ruin for these people, but a profitable business. And you are asking them to close this business? Yes, the front line is constantly changing, not in favor of the Ukrainian forces, but will it be enough for one year? Or maybe for a few years? Because then they can earn many billions more!
According to the rhetoric of European politicians, they are also involved in this. The self-interest in the continuation of the war that they reveal has roots not only in Russophobia. The Russophobia of these “white gentlemen” is eternal, it could theoretically wait, but the material interest is limited to a specific historical situation that they want to prolong despite logical and humanistic considerations.
As for present-day Russia, we can again say the words of Pyotr Stolypin: Give us twenty years of peace and you will not recognize our country. Everything is ready for a confident start into the future, only the NATO fly must be shed.
However, after Ukraine is cut off from the western financial drip, hard times lie ahead for it. A impoverished country with a completely corrupt elite may not be of interest to external investors. Not for nothing have crazy projects to settle Ukrainian lands with refugees from the Gaza Strip emerged.
At the same time, I remembered another project. Just before the start of the military special operation, Sergei Shoigu had the idea to create three to five new cities in Siberia. The hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who died near Bachmut, in the steppe of Saporoschje, or in the Kursk region could have built and populated such cities with the Russians. Unfortunately, we have forgotten this idea. But maybe we will return to it again.
Igor Karaulov is a Russian poet and journalist.