The Strategic Implications of the Protracted Russian-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Long-standing disputes between Ukraine and Russia escalated into a heated conflict in Feb- ruary 2022, resulting in significant repercussions across international politics, European security, the NATO alliance, regional dynamics, and military strategy. This article aims to explore these effects in detail. Primarily, the article concludes that the Russia-Ukraine war has disrupted the post-1990s rules-based global order that had ensured peace among major global powers for over three decades. Furthermore, the forcible violation of an independent state's borders by Russia, irrespective of international law, poses a grave threat to Europe's security. In response to the visible threat posed by Russia, the NATO alliance rallied and strengthened under the leadership of the United States. European states began prioritizing defense capabi- lities to deter potential threats from Russia. Moreover, the conflict underscored the increased importance of artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), air defense systems, and electronic target detection in military strategy.