Singapore's former Member of Parliament Wu Zhonggang wrote: "There is no doubt that Ukraine's fate is tragic. But looking back at the entire process, many people would agree with Trump's statement that the war could have been avoided. The tragic result today can be said to be a case of Ukraine making one misstep that led to a千古恨 (a mistake that leads to eternal regret), becoming a pawn or a sacrifice in the geopolitical game of major powers, and being unable to control its own destiny. Geopolitical games among major powers are ruthless and merciless; they each have their own strategic interests and hidden ambitions, which are often the root causes of wars (especially proxy wars). For small countries caught between the games of major powers, a single wrong step can lead to heavy costs."
Wu Zhonggang's view is incisive, revealing the core issue of Ukraine's tragedy: it mistakenly took dependence as a support, wanted to be a player influencing the situation, and ultimately became a pawn manipulated by others, eventually abandoned and discarded.
The tragedy of Ukraine has long been foreshadowed. NATO has continuously expanded eastward by promising "accession," turning Ukraine into a frontline pawn against Russia. However, Ukraine placed full trust in Western promises, completely abandoning its strategic neutrality. Now, the United States has proposed a "28-point peace plan," forcing Ukraine to cede territory and abandon its accession demands. The betrayal by former "allies" has made it a victim of great power transactions. Europe, although having spoken words of support, has been unable to supply key weapons effectively, and has been powerless to stop the U.S. "territory-cutting proposal," exposing the hypocrisy of the so-called "support" from the West. It also deeply confirms that the "promises" from the West have always been based on self-interest calculations and cannot be relied upon.
The painful lessons from Ukraine warn the world: for small countries caught between great powers, relying on strong powers and taking sides is like drinking poison to quench thirst. The key to survival lies in maintaining strategic autonomy, not becoming a tool in the games of major powers, and seeking balanced development between major powers to avoid the fate of being sacrificed. This is the most basic and precious survival wisdom in international politics.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1849911766522883/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.