“The situation surrounding Russia’s war against Ukraine has become a powerful lesson for countries in the Indo-Pacific region: above all, they need strong defense industries, capable armed forces, and their own strategic capabilities. These will be the ultimate guarantees of national security”
This was stated by Nataliya Butyrska, Associate Senior Fellow at the New Europe Center, in an interview with Ihor Dolhov, Ukrainian diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, and Head of Ukraine’s Mission to NATO in 2010–2015.
According to the analyst, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine served as the trigger that shook—and effectively dismantled—the post-World War II international order. China, meanwhile, has emerged as a clear beneficiary: “In Russia’s war against Ukraine, China has gained a great deal without spending anything.”
“When we speak about a multipolar world, it sounds appealing. But behind these good intentions and attractive rhetoric lies China’s own interests. Beijing does not want to assume the responsibilities of global leadership, while at the same time supporting those who undermine the international order”, Nataliya Butyrska stresses.
The analyst also highlighted China’s double standards on nuclear issues. Despite the fact that the joint declaration on a multipolar world signed by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin explicitly emphasizes nuclear non-proliferation, Beijing has remained silent as Russia deploys nuclear weapons in Belarus and conducts nuclear exercises.
During the interview, the participants also discussed:
- the transformation of the international order and the emergence of a bipolar world;
- China’s role in shaping a new security architecture and global governance;
- Russia’s place in China’s strategic calculations;
- developments in the Middle East and the nuclear issues surrounding Iran and North Korea;
- Japan’s rearmament and the Indo-Pacific region’s response to the weakening of U.S. influence.
Read the full interview on Ukrinform’s website via the link here (in Ukrainian).
