It was during the Operation Desert Storm and the subsequent liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invaders in 1991 that the world for the first time saw the devastating result of massive armed conflicts in the recent history.

People around the world realized that differences could never be resolved through invasions and that armed conflicts cannot help end hostilities. After tackling the Iraqi invaders, the world appeared to be heading to a new era of lasting peace and harmony. The world was marching toward a new period of stability and bracing for a new world order.

The 90s saw the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, collapse of the Soviet Union, rise of China, massive expansion of communication technology and the Internet. It was during those days when the issue of global warming started gathering pace. Within a short span, the world turned into a global village where everybody got closer to each other and people got to know others better.

The most important change that occurred as a result of various political events across the globe was the emergence of the United States as the sole superpower of the world. Perhaps, this was the first time in the history of mankind that the world became unipolar. With the dissolution of the USSR, many countries and regions forged new alliances with the NATO and the then nascent European Union.

It was a time when the US and Russia came closer, and the past hostilities ended and the world saw the dismantling of many nuclear weapons. During the 90s, Russia stood aside when the Americans were attacking the historical Russian ally, the Serbs. But, did the old guard in Moscow forget the humiliation? The answer is: No. They didn’t. So, the question is why the Russians are showing defiance to the Americans now in face of the Ukrainian crisis? Is it because the Russians see weakness in the American positions? The Americans are very hesitant on many crucial issues such as the Syrian uprising?

Currently the world is facing many conflicts but the Ukrainian crisis is unique in nature. People across the globe are holding their breath, as the situation is a grim reminder of the Cuban missile crisis of the 60s.

The Ukrainian issue has resurrected ghosts of the Cold War with the West led by the United States set to lock horns with Russia. The situation is volatile with Russian forces on a high alert and their Ukrainian counterparts readying themselves for a possible onslaught. The West is also carefully monitoring the situation and is reportedly prepared to deal with any situation. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if the situation gets ugly, the entire world will be in disarray.

Ukraine is a country covering an area the size of the American state of Texas with a population of about 50 million people. Ukraine is a country, which can be one of the breadbaskets of our planet. It is the world’s third country in grain export. This highly industrialized country has witnessed a number of political and economic upheavals since its independence from the USSR in 1991.

Ukraine is the lifeline between Russia and Europe with natural gas pipelines running through it. But whatever the reason for the current conflict, people on this plant now deserve peace and harmony, not wars and atrocities.

The world saw the immediate consequences of the Ukrainian crisis even before outbreak of real hostilities and confrontation. The world stock markets plunged, oil and gold prices started to fluctuate and this will have other effects on the life of many people. The United States and Russia must resort to peaceful means to end the conflict in Ukraine and the Ukrainian people must be given the power to decide their fate without any foreign intervention or pressure. Ukraine is country that can contribute to the world, so, give the country a break to recover from the internal unrest. We must learn from history and realize that fighting has never resolved any issue.