We join the world in watching developments in the Ukraine war after China offered recently a 12-point proposal to end the fighting, which passed its first year last Friday.
More than 8 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, according to the UN Refugee Agency which described this as the largest crisis in Europe since World War II.
Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a telephone call “we in the Philippines are watching with admiration, the bravery and the nationalism that has been displayed by the Ukrainians during this crisis.
“We join you in your effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in your country. Mr. President, we are with you in your search for peace,” Marcos added.
Between 500,000 and one million Russians have also left their country, not to mention at least 20,000 arrested for protesting the war.
While there is a vast gulf between the reporting from Russia and Ukraine, Western intelligence agencies estimated recently that some 200,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the war began.
The Ukrainian toll is believed to be lower – but still more than 100,000 dead or wounded troops. These are staggering figures for both countries; beyond the grief and loss, the numbers have raised questions about how long the two armies can sustain this pace of fighting.
On Friday, China’s foreign ministry published a 12-point position paper which laid out how it thinks peace can be restored to Ukraine.
The proposal, which coincided with a security conference in Munich, Germany, follows China’s recent announcement it is trying to act as mediator in the war that has re-energized Western alliances viewed by Beijing and Moscow as rivals.
But while the 12-point proposal, may be felt as whiff of fresh air, it is unlikely that it would find much favor in Kyiv, Washington or European capitals, largely because it avoids explaining how territory that Russia has seized would be handled.
US President Joe Biden dismissed China’s proposed peace plan, suggesting its implementation would only benefit Russia.
Zelenskyy, who has described the invasion as “the hardest day of our modern history,” has pledged victory over Russia, downplaying the possibility of near-term peace talks.
Zelenskyy has said Russian President Vladimir Putin “is no longer the same person” he once was.
The United States and other allies also rallied behind Ukraine, and the Biden administration announced some $10 billion in financial assistance, in addition to $2 billion in military aid.
In the meanwhile, the world watches how things would develop after Zelensy shared messages of hope as anxiety and resolve filled the air throughout Ukrainian cities.
The 45-year-old Zelenskyy, 25 years Putin’s junior, has declared 2023 as the year of Ukraine’s victory over Russia and expressed confidence in his country’s ability to fend off attacks, but stopped short of offering a timeline on how soon the fighting could end.
Officials round the world have joined Zelenskyy in his hopeful message, releasing statements underlining their support for Ukraine.