Civilian killings affect peace bid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed footage of civilians found dead in the streets of Bucha near Kyiv with bullet wounds, some of them shot at close range, and accused Russia of genocide, and he also demanded that Russia be thrown out of the United National Human Rights Council as well as the Security Council. He said if the world body fails to act against Russia, then it should disband.

Those are strong words, even rude. But Zelensky’s remark is understandable. Without casting least doubt on what Zelensky had to say, it is necessary that there should be an independent international inquiry into the deaths of civilians in Bucha. Russia has vehemently denied the charges and called the footage a forgery. It is natural for Ukraine and Russia to trade charges. It is necessary then that there should be an inquiry and truth established about the deaths. India which had condemned the Bucha killings though it still did not name Russia as the perpetrator, demanded an independent inquiry.

European Union countries and the United States are gearing up to impose more sanctions against Russia in the wake of the Bucha killings. The EU and the US are not waiting to determine the details of the killings. Reuters news agency reported Ukrainian Serhii Lahovskyi burying his childhood friend who was shot through his mouth, but said, “Reuters could not independently verify the details of Lahovskyi’s account or who was responsible for the killings in Bucha.” The international news agency also reported: “Reuters reporters saw at least four victims shot through the head in Bucha, one with their hands tied behind their back.” In a conflict zone, it becomes very important to verify as rigorously as possible the gruesome facts, and it cannot be interpreted as letting the crimes go unpunished.

According to Ukrainian officials, a mass burial site next to a church in Bucha might contain 150 to 300 bodies. And a private United States company said satellite images taken two weeks ago show bodies strewn in the street of the town. Russians have however called it a “monstrous forgery”.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said work is on to ban Russian oil imports, something that the EU had avoided till now. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock talking about the proposed ban on coal imports from Russia and not allowing Russian ships to enter European ports, said that the ban on Russia coal was the first step towards ban on all Russian fuel imports. Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said, “The images and reports emerging of atrocities committed against civilians in Bucha and other regions of Ukraine is abhorrent and reprehensible and New Zealand continues to respond to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s mindless acts of aggression.” New Zealand has imposed 35 per cent tariff on all Russian imports, and it has decided to ban imports of Russian industrial products connected with strategic sectors.

There is an attempt on the part of all Western countries to corner Russia and choke its economy without going into war with it directly. There is a strong belief that Western economic sanctions are more effective than fighting and winning a military battle. And it could very well be the case. Russia may not be able to withstand Western economic sanctions over a long period because Russia’s trade with the West, as in the case of China, is what makes its economy buoyant.

Ukraine under President Zelensky is fighting a bitter battle with President Putin and the Russians, and it looks like that it will be difficult to make peace between the two. The Bucha killings have made it more difficult than ever.