The world should take sincere efforts to defuse tension between Russia and Ukraine for the sake of their innocent people who paid a heavy price, during the war, leaving their houses, work and businesses, taking refuge in neighbouring countries (“Ukraine fears repeat of Mariupol horrors elsewhere in Donbas,” May 28, Gulf Today website).  

The situation in Donbas is the worst as Moscow-backed separatists pounded eastern Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region Friday, claiming to capture a railway hub; Ukrainian officials have pleaded for the sophisticated Western weapons they say they need to stop the onslaught.

It’s so unfortunate that the world witnessed the suffering and pain of Afghan people during the longest American war against terrorism in Afghanistan. The war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified which started three months ago. It shows the same situation Ukraine people are going through as the people of Afghanistan did through during the Afghan war.

Authorities say 1,500 people in Sievierodonetsk have already died since the war’s start three months ago. Russia-backed rebels also said they’d taken the railway hub of Lyman.

The governor of Luhansk warned that Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded.

It’s the need of the hour to start peace negotiations between the conflicting countries to stop more bloodshed and destruction in Ukraine.

I hope the sense of peace will prevail on both sides. Russia and Ukraine should start negotiations for the sake of their own innocent people.

Kashif Abbas,
By email