An Embarressing Tragedy for the Christian World
And yet, for all their progress, these two nations are now killing each other. Putin believes Ukraine is a part of the "same spiritual space" as Russia, he believes they should be united again as they were a thousand years ago. Both countries share considerable linguistic, religious, and cultural similarities. However, Ukraine has recently been politically and culturally drifting towards the West, towards North America and the European Union... with all their liberalism. I can understand Putin's concerns.
However, Russia too must be "blamed" for the conflict. I don't pretend to know much about this topic, there are so many complexities involved in the post-Soviet space and it's development, but I can say with some confidence that Russia has never really integrated into the international system. There have been failures on both sides. Russia's lack of cooperation and pride of civilization, and thieving Western actors circling like buzzards around the Soviet empire's corpse.
NATO only exists because Russia continues to present a challenge to the post-Cold War international order. If Russia fully integrated into the Western system then it would probably have little to fear, and it would likely have nothing to fear from America. Perhaps, the geopolitical establishment in the United States still has lingering fears about Russia's ability to dominate Europe, and thus the world, but certainly most Americans don't feel this way and derive no excitement about continuing to spend trillions of dollars on European security.
Whatever the reasons, however, and whatever the sketchy details and misunderstandings and backroom discussions, what's absolutely certain is that this war is an embarrassing tragedy for the Christian world. That two predominantly and historically Christian groups of people are killing each other is always tragic and embarrassing. It was tragic and embarrassing in WWI and WWII and now in 2022. The Vatican has offered to play a role in mediating a peace settlement, and it would be a wonderful gesture if both the Russian and Ukrainian governments agreed to this mediation.
However, perhaps not all of this is bad. I have confidence that God is working behind the events of history. He is working, somehow, in the souls of Russians and Ukrainians and in the rest of the watching world. Sometimes, wars produce positive results in the long run. Sometimes, they shock people out of a materialistic stupor and make them think about big questions and the meaning of life. Sometimes, they lead to a baby boom (much needed in both nations). Perhaps, this war will lead to the collapse of the Russian Federation and the rise of something new and important in the development of world history. Perhaps, this war will lead to the salvation of many souls. As tragic as war is, it provides the opportunity for great virtue and heroism to arise, and we shouldn't neglect to appreciate this terrible beauty.
Let's pray for peace, justice, and the welfare of these two historically Christian nations and the many souls connected to them. Let's pray that all of us, and the world's leaders, may think and behave wisely in the coming days and weeks.