Heine’s Perspectives on the Prolonged Russia-Ukraine Conflict
In a recent CGTN interview on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, and Professor Klaus Larres were asked, “Fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, with the conflict about to enter its third year. Will Western support for Ukraine hold up?” Heine and Larres offered differing opinions.
Heine presented a perspective challenging the assumption of unwavering Western support for Ukraine and described the war as a “war of attrition,” suggesting a shift from the initial commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. He emphasized the need for Ukraine to explore mediation and conflict resolution rather than persisting with an outdated notion of prolonged support.
Contrarily, Professor Klaus Larres expressed optimism about continued support from the European Union and individual European states. He also highlighted the $60 billion requested by President Biden for Ukraine, acknowledging the domestic entanglements that have temporarily stalled its approval. Larres anticipated that once these issues are resolved, Western allies will unfreeze the funds, demonstrating ongoing support for Ukraine.
Jorge Heine’s contribution to the discussion offers a unique perspective on the conflict, urging a reevaluation of strategies. As Heine stated,
“Ukraine should start looking at the possibility of mediation to broker the conflict and bring it to an end.”
These differing viewpoints provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding the conflict and the diverse opinions within the academic community. The interview in full can be viewed on CGTN’s Youtube Channel here.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his Pardee School faculty profile.