Russian megalomaniac

As the world chocked in horror and the US-led NATO countries stared at the unbelievable scene of Russian military might invade and destroy powerless Ukraine; no country could think of getting involved as they feared it could spread the conflict and even spark a nuclear war of sorts. It all began as pre-planned when Russia officially recognised the two self-proclaimed states in the Donbas on February 21 and sent troops to the territories. Three days later, Putin sent his military to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO nations, in particular, the US had warned Putin that any invasion on Ukraine would force the US and its allies to respond with heavy consequence. As Russian jets bombed cities, raining deaths on civilians; helicopter gunships fired rockets at facilities, heavy armoured tanks, personnel carriers and rocket brigades knocked out roads and bridges etc NATO could only watch with impotent rage. Eventually the response was belated as late as the fourth day of the Russian invasion. The US, UK, Canada, Australia including European Commission announced tightening of economic sanctions and also targeting Russia’s two largest banks. These economic sanctions were multidimensional and included travel bans and financial sanctions. Financial sanctions consist of targeted asset freezes and restrictions on a wide variety of financial markets and services. The European Commission has introduced asset freezes and travel bans preventing listed individuals from entering or transiting through EU territory. Together with the US and the UK, the EU has also agreed to remove select Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system, the financial messaging infrastructure that links the world’s banks. Several countries have announced ban to and from Russia such as UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Estonia. As the U.S. and Europe roll out an arsenal of economic sanctions to combat Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is scant understanding that the financial interdependence of the crisis’s significant players means quick and easy solutions are unlikely to work. Worse still, imposing sanctions on Russia’s elite oligarchs will do little if anything to hurt the rich and powerful in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. After Ukraine’s desperate pleas for military equipments went unheeded for days, NATO nations finally had the courage to send heavy military equipments. Probably the bravery of the Ukrainian army and militia in slowing down the mighty Russian military emboldened the US and NATO. The Russians have no business to invade a foreign nation no matter how much they dislike the rulers just because Ukrainians want to be free and independent of Moscow. The sanctions will definitely hurt the Russians- the poor middle class but not the Oligarchs who have enough wealth to go around for another century. The weapons will be welcome to the Ukrainians but it will only make Putin more determined to go on rampage and justify his actions. In the current conflict, if there are many who denounce Putin for his naked aggression and even willing to push the conflict to the brink of a nuclear conflict. Those who denounce Putin may be right but it should be admitted that the US is no better when it comes to undemocratic means while invading other nations and causing untold human sufferings only to effect regime change.