why is the cold war called the proxy war

There is nothing proxy about it for either side.

Between a third to half a million people have already been killed or maimed, in just 12 months. Russia really invaded Ukraine and it really has bombed real civilians, real hospitals and real infrastructure. This is no proxy war, with NATO and the Soviets pitched against each other behind the scenes in the remote tropics as happened during the Cold War or as is currently happening in Yemen, where different Middle East factions fund the fighting done by others. Plus, Ukrainians will never accept to surrender and it is they who have the agency in this war they decide. Imagine, if the Allies had sued for peace in 1943, and agreed Hitler should be allowed to keep what he had conquered to 'stop the killing'. He was only defending against the Polish attack on the radio transmitter in Gleiwitz…Īnd the suggestion Ukraine should accept ‘terms’ – and Putin be allowed to walk away with a fifth of the country, having laid waste to cities with clear evidence of war crimes – can be viewed in the same way. He was only protecting the Germans in the Sudetenland. That was the same reason given by Hitler, for the invasion of half of Europe.

That was the same reason given by Hitler, for the invasion of half of EuropeĪny ‘excuse’ for the Russian attack on Ukraine – because it felt threatened – should be viewed with the lens of history. And they can now be perceived as predictors of the invasion – although absolutely not excuses for it.Īny ‘excuse’ for the Russian attack on Ukraine – because it felt threatened – should be viewed with the lens of history. With hindsight, what seemed like the ramblings of madmen, which appeared before the invasion, seem remarkably prescient. In the year since, I have reviewed evidence for the Russian action, such as exists.

Why is the cold war called the proxy war